Issuu

LU T H E R A

VOLUME 45, NUMBER 3

spring 2012

Arne Sorenson ’80: New Marriott CEO takes on a global challenge Spring 2012 mag cover.indd 1

4/17/12 4:59 PM

Editor Ellen Modersohn Luther Magazine Volume 45, Number 3, Spring 2012

Managing Editor Sara Friedl-Putnam

Published by Luther College for alumni, parents, and friends

Designer Michael Bartels

TOC-Spring2012.indd 1

Contributing Editors Sue (Franzen) Drilling ’78 Jerry Johnson Kirk Johnson ’82 Brock Lane ’13 Katherine Langston ’15 Karen Martin-Schramm Katherine Mohr ’14 Marissa Schuh ’14 Ann Sponberg Peterson Judy Riha Kristi Wietecha ’12

Luther Alumni Magazine welcomes articles and signed letters to the editor; submissions may be edited for style, clarity, or length. Inquiries and submissions may be sent to the Editor, Luther Alumni Magazine, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045, phone (563) 387-1350. Class Notes submissions and changes of address may be sent to the Alumni Office at the address above. Alumni news may be e-mailed to the Alumni Office at alumni@ luther.edu. Questions and concerns about the magazine may be mailed to magazine@luther.edu.

4/17/12 3:38 PM

Contents Features Prepared for the World

Luther alumnus is new Marriott CEO

Study-away photos

President’s Council Recognition

Whether organizing a job fair, helping a student land an internship, or starting a program such as Launching Luther Leaders, the college helps prepare students for life after Luther in meaningful ways.

Arne Sorenson ’80 puts his curiosity about the world to work for the largest publicly traded U.S. hotel chain and also for communities throughout the world.

Luther students who participated in academic programs around the globe this past year share photos that reflect their experiences.

These lists include individuals and organizations that have provided financial support of $1,000 or more to Luther during the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2011.

Departments Campus News

Photo by Julie Strom ’93

Faculty/Staff News..........................................5 Faculty/Staff Notes.........................................9 Development News........................................10 Donor Profile.................................................11 Grants...........................................................13 College Ministries News.................................13 Sustainability.................................................14 Student News................................................16 Athletics........................................................17

Alumni Office (800) 225-8664; (800) 2 ALUMNI Admissions Office (800) 458-8437; (800) 4 LUTHER World Wide Web www.luther.edu Copyright Luther College 2012

TOC-Spring2012.indd 2

Alumni News

Class Notes...................................................49 Alumni Profile................................................61 Marriages.....................................................64 Births/Adoptions...........................................65 Obituaries.....................................................67

Endpage

Calendar

inside back

Cover: Arne Sorenson ’80 became chief executive officer of Marriott International in March. Photo courtesy of Marriott International

4/17/12 3:39 PM

Campus News Torgerson to end 14-year presidential tenure in 2013 Richard Torgerson will end his tenure as president of Luther in the summer of 2013. Torgerson and his wife, Judy, joined the Luther community in July 1999 and have been at the forefront of more than a decade of progress during which the institution has become academically and financially stronger, maintained enrollment of outstanding students, reshaped its campus to a beautiful and practical landscape, and assembled an exceptional faculty and staff. “Luther College has been blessed with the right leaders at each stage of its 151-year history, and the Torgersons are certainly the most recent example of this,” says Paula (Hermeier) Meyer ’76, chair of the Luther College Board of Regents. “Both Rick and Judy have devoted their lives to the college, and board members, faculty, staff, and students have been both inspired and motivated by their passion.” According to Torgerson, the timing is right to transition to the next phase of the couple’s vocational journey. “It brings us to the end of an eight-year term, the conclusion of the college’s sesquicentennial celebration, the fulfillment of the Sesquicentennial Fund goals, and the culmination of the current five-year strategic plan,” he says. “We don’t know where our journey might lead us, but we have great faith that once again we will be called to serve where our passions and gifts can fulfill a need.”

Judy and Richard Torgerson say the time is right to start their next journey. Under Torgerson’s leadership, Luther has gained recognition as one of the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges, prepared to meet the challenges facing higher education in the decades ahead. “Rick Torgerson has delivered impressive results during his 14-year presidential tenure, leaving Luther College a significantly stronger institution as a result of his service,” Meyer says. His accomplishments include the construction of Sampson Hoffland Laboratories and the Center for the Arts and the completion of the Legends Fitness for Life Center. In addition, several buildings have undergone major renovations and/or expansions, including Valders Hall of Science, Dahl Centennial Union, Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Loyalty Hall, and all student residence halls. The central campus green areas and roadways were reconfigured and Bentdahl Commons constructed, enhancing Luther’s standing as one of the most

beautiful campuses in the nation. Torgerson shaped and directed two transformational strategic plans. By the conclusion of his tenure, he will also have led Luther’s development team to the successful completion of three major campaigns for scholarships, facilities, and other educational needs—Leadership for a New Century ($63.5 million raised), the Higher Calling Campaign ($93.3 million raised), and the Sesquicentennial Fund ($50 million raised). Together, these funding initiatives have added more than $55 million to the college’s endowment. A hallmark of Torgerson’s tenure has been Luther’s national leadership role in environmental sustainability for college campuses. He was a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007 and has championed Luther’s engagement with the ACUPCC goal to “neutralize greenhouse gas emissions and

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to restabilize the earth’s climate.” The recent erection of a wind turbine that generates a third of Luther’s electrical power is the most visible symbol of that commitment, but the college has planned, developed, and enacted hundreds of sustainability initiatives in its drive to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent. Torgerson’s leadership in higher education—especially among the nation’s top liberal arts institutions—has lifted the college’s stature and contributed to an invitation in 2009 to join the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, an organization of the region’s most prestigious liberal arts institutions. His commitment to higher education beyond the Luther campus includes: • being a consultant and evaluator for the North Central Association’s Higher Learning Commission, the corporation that accredits degree-granting institutions in the north central region of the United States; • membership in the NCAA Division III Presidents Council • chairing the Presidents Council of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; • service as chair of the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America and as a member of its executive committee; • joining the academic program working group for the ACUPCC; • being chair and a board member of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities;

2 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 2

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News

Michelle Alexander, associate professor of law at Ohio State University, above, gave the plenary lecture for the ninth annual Midwest Black History Conference, “Modern Blackness and the New Jim Crow(s),” Feb. 15 in the Center for Faith and Life. Based on Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, the lecture was one of many events held during the twoday conference, which also included a presentation by Sheila Radford-Hill, executive director of the Luther Diversity Center; panel discussions; and a gallery exhibit and reception.

position of strength. “Luther is well positioned as we tackle this leadership transition,” she says. “Together with his team, President Torgerson has built a solid foundation for

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

Luther to meet the challenges of the years ahead—this is perhaps Rick’s ultimate achievement, and final gift, to the Luther community.”

Historian, economist, NYT writer speak

MIKAELA BELLAND ’12

Clayborne Carson, historian Clayborne Carson—professor of history and director of the King Papers Project at Stanford University—presented the Luther College Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Lecture, “Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Era of Barack Obama,” Jan. 16 in Valders Hall of Science. During the lecture, Carson emphasized his belief that social change comes from the bottom up. “If you want to see change, don’t look for a leader,” he said. “Look in the mirror.... It’s really your decision what direction the country is going to go.” Carson served as senior adviser for Eyes on the Prize, a 14part, award-winning public television series on the civil rights movement. Eric Olson ’85, economist Eric Olson ’85—economic affairs officer for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in the United Nations Secretariat—presented the opening convocation lecture for the spring semester, “The United Nations’ Quest to End Extreme Poverty,” Feb. 2 in the Center for Faith and Life. The lecture provided an overview of the eight Millennium Development Goals, adopted by world leaders in 2000 in an effort to reduce extreme poverty by 2015. MIKAELA BELLAND ’12

Speakers, exhibit, panel, and more make up forum on black history

for J-term experiences around the world,” he says. “But her affection and advocacy for students extends far beyond the workplace, including her enthusiastic, loyal attendance at hundreds of concerts, lectures, athletic events, and music recitals. Without her as my partner, I could not possibly have helped Luther achieve its goals during our time here.” Respected and beloved by the college community, Judy Torgerson is known for her gracious and warm hospitality. “As host or participant at hundreds of Luther events, Judy has contributed immeasurably to our campus team-building and community partnerships essential to the success of the college,” Torgerson says. Serving at Luther, says Torgerson, has been an honor and the fulfillment of his calling as an education leader. “Over our working lifetime, serving five different colleges, 14 years is the longest Judy and I have stayed in any one place,” he says. “To be able to live in Decorah and serve Luther has made these years very special and rewarding—we will leave with memories that we will always carry with us, and we will never find the words or actions to express adequately our thanks for the support and encouragement we have received from regents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Luther.” “The Luther community has made this journey one of joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment,” he says. “I especially want to express my appreciation to the leadership team at Luther that has contributed so much to the success and achievements we have realized over these years. Leaders can only be successful when they surround themselves with strong and capable colleagues.” As the board addresses this period of presidential change, the college, Meyer says, is in a

Nicholas Kristof, columnist Nicholas Kristof—Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times—delivered “Half the Sky: A Call to Action,” the 2012 Luther College Farwell Distinguished Lecture, in the Center for Faith and Life on Feb. 2. Kristof’s lecture focused on women’s rights and how helping women in developing nations can change the world. He and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, are the authors of the best-seller Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Kristof was the subject of the documentary Reporter, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2009. Funding for his lecture was provided by the Elwin and Helen Farwell Lecture Endowment with partnership from the Luther Center for Ethics and Public Life, the Women and Gender Studies Department, and the Lucile Price Endowment. MIKAELA BELLAND ’12

MARIA DA SILVA ’15

• being a board member of Minnesota Public Radio and of the Bioscience Alliance of Iowa. Torgerson says that as his companion and inspiration, his wife, Judy, has been invaluable in developing and stewarding friendships and relationships, while also serving as an administrative assistant for Luther’s Center for Global Learning. “Judy has assisted hundreds of students in their preparation

A L U M N I

3 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 3

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News Erratum

Selections include “Hosanna to the Son of David” by Orlando Gibbons, “O Sacrum Convivium” by Thomas Tallis, “Caritas et Amor” by Z. Randall Stroope, “Richte Mich, Gott” by Felix Mendelssohn, and the popular anthem “Here I Am, Lord” by Ovid Young. For more information, or to order the CD, call the Luther Book Shop at (888) 521-5039 or visit www.luther.edu/bookshop/.

Nordic Choir released its latest CD, Here I Am, Lord, in January 2012. The 68-voice a cappella choir is conducted by Allen Hightower, Luther professor of music.

Here I Am, Lord Luther College Nordic Choir—Allen Hightower, conductor

Balalaika Ensemble concerts raise funds for good causes

The CD features 18 songs from the choir’s 2011 Winter Tour of the Upper Midwest.

Their costumes were colorful, their instruments intriguing, and their music just plain fun. In October 2011, the Luther Balalaika Ensemble kicked off its 20th year with two lively concerts—one in the Luther Center for Faith and Life, the other at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis. The concerts not only showcased the group’s folk music expertise but

also raised almost $3,000 for two causes—the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy Food Sharing Ministry and a scholarship established at Luther in memory of the late Bruce Wrightsman, a longtime member of the college’s faculty. “It was a fantastic weekend of reconnecting, making music, and supporting very worthy causes,” says Laurie IudinNelson, Luther associate professor of Russian studies and ensemble founder. Established in 1992—and composed of Luther faculty, staff, and students—the group plays a variety of Russian, Russian Romani, Jewish, and Eastern European music using traditional instruments such as the balalaika (a three-stringed folk instrument with a triangular base) and the domra (an ovalshaped stringed instrument with three or four strings). The group has raised more than $13,000 for charitable causes since its founding.

Maria da Silva ’15

The Winter 2012 issue of the Luther Alumni Magazine incorrectly reported that construction had begun on the “Luther Neighbors” Habitat for Humanity house. The “Luther Neighbors” house will undergo construction in Fall 2012 on the lot adjacent to the Habitat for Humanity house that was pictured in the magazine. Fund raising for the “Luther Neighbors” house—a project of the college’s sesquicentennial—continues. For more information on the “Luther Neighbors” project, or to donate to it, contact Rachel Vagts, Luther archivist, at vagtsrac@luther.edu.

New Nordic Choir CD released

Singer, activist promote healing conversation Folk singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer, left, and author-activist Parker Palmer brought their considerable talents to campus for “Healing the Heart of Democracy: A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good,” an afternoon of song and spoken word held Jan. 22 in the Center for Faith and Life. The event was designed to encourage political conversation that bridges community divides and restores civic community. It was part of a two-day campus visit by the duo that also included a daylong retreat, “Democracy from the Inside Out: A Circle of Trust,” held Jan. 21 at Luther’s Baker Commons. Founder and senior partner of the Center for Courage and Renewal, Palmer focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change. He has authored nine books, including the recent best-seller Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit. A 2003 Grammy Award recipient, Newcomer recently released the album Everything is Everywhere; profits from its sales benefit the Interfaith Hunger Initiative.

L U T H E R

Several alumni joined the Luther Balalaika Ensemble for two concerts celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary last October. Pictured in the Center for Faith and Life Oct. 29 are (front, left to right) Andrea Beckendorf ’93 (Luther associate professor of library and information studies/research), Greg Siems ’12, Chelsi Hammon ’12, Erik Sand ’14, Evan Ruchotzke ’14; (back) Ami (Shoup) Hall ’96, Carson Adams ’14, Amy Morey ’06, Laurie Iudin-Nelson (Luther associate professor of Russian studies), Eric Lindgren ’12, Doug Winkey ’12, Allison (Faust) Gates ’06, Jennifer Smeby ’99, and Aaron Murphy ’06.

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

4 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 4

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Audrey Tran Lam ’13

Campus News

Luther College Ballroom/Swing team members Kevin Lam ’15 and Anni Okoneski ’15 compete in the Star of the North DanceSport competition.

Rumba in the city: Dancers flash their knock-out moves On a cold day in Minneapolis, Luther dancers brought some heat to a ballroom competition, placing near the top in several events. The Luther College Ballroom/Swing team competed in the Star of the North DanceSport ballroom competition Feb. 25−26. Sixty team members competed, and many won prizes for their foxtrot, cha-cha, rumba, and swing dances. In addition to earning ribbons, certificates, and scholarships, team members were also acknowledged for their enthusiasm. “Luther is well known for incredible sportsmanship and team spirit. Our ballroom team really reflects well on our school— we’re complimented all the time on it,” says Audrey Tran Lam ’13, the club’s president. Other teams at the competition included the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin−Madison, and Carleton College. April Dahl coaches the ballroom/swing team. She owns

Dahl Dance Center in Rochester, Minn. Tran Lam says Dahl is “so supportive of our growing team. We wouldn’t be the team we are without her.” Ballroom/swing is divided into competitive and social sections. The social section has existed since 2008, and the competitive section was started in 2011. “Our competitive team has doubled in size from last year,” Tran Lam says. Team members see competitive dance as a sport. “You have to work hard and become proficient, and it takes a lot of discipline—mental and physical, just like any other athletic sport,” Tran Lam says. Money that the Luther team won will go toward lessons and registration fees. The competitive squad began preparing for the Star of the North in September, so they had about six months to practice their moves before competing for the first time. Placing in the top three for their heat were: Kevin Lam ’15 and Katherine Tangen ’15, foxtrot; Dakota Lancour ’15 and Marley Crossland ’15, and Anders Lund ’15 and Natalia Ophaug ’15, swing; Colton

L U T H E R

Pugh ’14 and Abby Pepin ’13, Lindy-hop; Mike Jungbluth ’14 and Hailey Magoline ’14, West Coast swing; Mike Jungbluth and Natalie Sims ’14 with their partners from the University of Minnesota−Rochester, cha-cha; Lance Schwering ’14, Audrey Tran Lam, and their partners, waltz; Mike Jungbluth and Rachel Zimmerman ’13, and Audrey Tran Lam and her partner, West Coast swing. Tran Lam says, “I am so proud of our competitive team…being around others who love dancing so much really motivates me to find other ways to enhance their dancing experience.”

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS

Wilkerson named associate dean and director of faculty development Luther’s new associate dean and director of faculty development sometimes feels like he’s running a good con. Jeffrey Wilkerson, Luther associate professor of physics, takes over from Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80, Luther professor of anthropology, at the end of her term on Aug. 1. He wrote recently that being able to talk with students about the universe, ponder the nature of science, and think about what makes a college great are so much fun and so rewarding that it can feel like a scam to do his job.

A L U M N I

He sees the move to his new position as a trade-off: “Less time thinking about the universe with students and more time working with faculty colleagues in thinking about what makes this a special place and continuing to build on those things.” Wilkerson was deep in thought about the universe while on sabbatical in 2011−12, working the data he and students have collected from the rooftop observatory at Valders Hall of Science. “We take images of one patch of sky (the size of your fingernail with your hand held at arm’s length) every clear night from late February to early October,” he says. “We measure the brightness of about 1,600 stars in the field hundreds or thousands of times each night.” The measurements help Luther researchers find stars not previously known to vary in their brightness. This data may result in a better international understanding of eclipsing binary contact stars, which are stars that have moved so close that they touch and orbit each other. Wilkerson also worked this past year with data collected as part of the college’s participation in a study to assess when and where in Luther’s curriculum students develop reasoning and critical thinking abilities. A member of the Luther physics faculty since 1997, Wilkerson has served as department head and as chair of the Faculty Organization Committee. He was awarded the Janet Andersen Lecture Award by the Midstates Consortium for Math and Science in 2008 in recognition of his engaged teaching and involvement with undergraduate researchers. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Indiana University and a doctorate in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.

M A G A Z I N E

5 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 5

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News

Landstrom named vice president, dean for student life Corey Landstrom will assume the position of Luther vice president and dean for student life July 9. He succeeds Ann Highum, who will retire in May after 21 years of service to the college. Landstrom is assistant dean of students at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., a position he has held since 2005. He previously spent two years as director of Colgate’s Center for Leadership and Student Involvement. Landstrom has also served as director of student activities at Reed College (1999–2003), assistant director of student activities at Hamilton College (1995–99), and residence life coordinator and assistant director of student activities at Grinnell College (1993–95). He holds a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional studies from the University of Minnesota–Duluth and a master’s degree in counseling and student personnel from Minnesota State University–Mankato.

Mattson ’81 returns to lead library and information services Paul Mattson ’81 is Luther’s new executive director of library and information services as of March 1. He succeeds Chris Barth, currently librarian and associate dean at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

(NSF) to support the acquisition of laboratory instruments for paleoclimatological research.

A longtime employee of IBM Corp., Mattson most recently served the company as business development and partnerships manager in Rochester, Minn., focusing on strategic alliances and leading the “Smarter Planet” training program for IBM in conjunction with Rochester Community Technical College and the Rochester community.

Modersohn joins publications office Ellen Modersohn joined the Luther staff as director of publications and design in late February. She succeeds Greg Vanney ’80, who worked at Luther for more than 25 years. As director of publications and design, Modersohn oversees the production of the Luther Alumni Magazine and a range of other college print publications. She most recently served as features editor at the Des Moines Register, a position she assumed in 2008 after freelancing as a production editor and copy editor for Meredith Corp. from 2002 to 2008. Modersohn has more than 20 years of professional editing and publishing experience, having also previously held the positions of assistant features editor and assistant news editor at the Des Moines Register as well as copy editor, assistant news editor, and news editor at the Wisconsin State Journal. Modersohn holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Grinnell College and has taken graduate courses in American studies at the University of Iowa and publication design at the University of Wisconsin.

In 2009–10 Mattson was a visiting instructor in economics and business at Luther. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and is a founding faculty member in biomedical informatics and computational biology at the University of Minnesota–Rochester. Since 2006, Mattson has served as an advisory board member of the University of Minnesota’s Technological Leadership Institute. From 2007–10, he was also a member of the board of governors of the Society of Sloan Fellows at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Mattson holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Luther, a master’s degree in management of technology from MIT, and a master’s degree in computer and information science from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Miri (Peterson) Mattson ’81, have three children—Maren ’08, Berit, and Erik ’12.

Peterson awarded NSF research grant Laura Peterson, Luther assistant professor of environmental studies and chemistry, has received a $120,197 grant from the National Science Foundation

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

Peterson’s research focuses on reconstructing the Earth’s past climate behavior to further understand current climate system dynamics. An important tool in this research is alkenone paleothermometry, a methodology for estimating past sea surface temperatures through compounds preserved in ocean sediments. The one-year grant will fund the purchase of an accelerated solvent extractor and a gas chromatograph, the instruments necessary to perform alkenone analysis in Peterson’s research laboratory at Luther. “With the funding from this grant, along with additional funding I’ve received from Luther, I’ll be able to get my research laboratory up and running,” she says. “I look forward to involving Luther students in paleoclimatological research.” With the new instrumentation, Peterson will explore the symmetry or asymmetry of northern and southern hemisphere climate changes from the late Miocene geological epoch to the present, a period of approximately five million years. Her research will also examine the development of the cryosphere and the connections between atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate evolution. Additional research will contribute to a better understanding of the alkenone paleothermometer itself, through investigation of the preservation of alkenone compounds in sedimentary sections lithified, uplifted, and

M A G A Z I N E

6 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 6

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News exposed on land. Peterson holds a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and master’s and doctoral degrees from Brown University.

Freeman translates ancient work: How to Win an Election Philip Freeman, Luther professor of classics, has translated an ancient work by Quintus Tullius Cicero. The book—How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians—was published by Princeton University Press in February 2012.

Cicero wrote the book—a guide for campaigning—during the consul campaign of his brother, Marcus, in 64 B.C. It offers no-nonsense advice on conducting a successful campaign, stressing the importance of promising everything to everybody, reminding voters about the sexual scandals of opponents, putting on a good show for the masses, and constantly being surrounded by rabid supporters. In February Freeman discussed the work on the popular NPR show All Things Considered. The book has received national attention, including endorsements from Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, and Gary Hart, former U.S. senator.

Regents approve tenure for faculty members

professor of Spanish, Ball State University; associate director, Borges Center, the University of Pittsburgh; associate editor, Variaciones Borges journal, Borges Center • Areas of research/interest: Jorge Luis Borges; Latin American cinema • Honors: Summer Dissertation Fellowship, University of Iowa; H. George and Jutta F. Anderson Faculty Development Fund, Luther College • Activities: author, El arte más antiguo (poetry); multiple journal articles, including works in Revista Iberoamericana, Agora, La Habana Elegante, and Variaciones Borges; various translations and book reviews; multiple academic presentations, including at the International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association, the Cuba Today Symposium, and at the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University.

The Luther Board of Regents approved tenure for eight faculty members at its February meeting. The faculty members also promoted to associate professor are Alfredo Alonso Estenoz (modern languages and literatures), Heather Armstrong (music), Erin Flater ’01 (physics), Nancy Gates Madsen (Modern Languages and Literatures), Doug Knick (education), Britt (Hellgren) Rhodes ’96 (social work), Paul Savariappan (mathematics), and Stephanie Travers (psychology). The Regents also recognized the following for promotions: Colin Betts ’93 (anthropology), Charlotte Kunkel (sociology), Kent Lee ’87 (computer science), Novian Whitsitt (Africana studies and English), and Jeffrey Wilkerson (physics) were promoted to full professor.

Alfredo Alonso Estenoz, modern languages and literatures • Luther faculty member since 2006 • Degrees held: bachelor’s in journalism, University of Havana, Cuba; master’s and doctorate in Spanish, University of Iowa • Career path: staff writer and copy editor, Casa de las Américas journal, Havana, Cuba; research and teaching assistant, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Iowa; visiting instructor, University of California–San Diego; assistant

Heather Armstrong, music • Luther faculty member since 2006 • Degrees held: bachelor’s in music, Houghton College; master’s in music and doctor of musical arts, Eastman School of Music • Career path: instructor, Eastman Community Music School, Roberts Wesleyan College, Hochstein School of Music and Dance; assistant professor, Houghton College; faculty, Lutheran Summer Music • Areas of research/interest: oboe, music theory, double reeds methods • Honors: grant, Hanson Institute of American Music • Activities: member, Interna-

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

tional Double Reed Society, College Music Society, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, La Crosse Symphony; principal oboist, Southern Tier Symphony; oboist, in numerous orchestras including the Erie and Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestras, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Equinox Symphony; performer, Olean Chamber Music Society, Alfred University, Hochstein School of Music and Dance, Eastman School of Music; faculty soloist, Csehy Summer School of Music.

Erin Flater ’01, physics • Luther faculty member since 2006 • Degrees held: bachelor’s in physics and Spanish, Luther College; master’s and doctorate in engineering mechanics, University of Wisconsin–Madison • Career Path: contract student, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.; graduate research assistant, University of Wisconsin–Madison • Areas of research/interest: origins of friction • Honors: National Science Foundation grant; National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow; Herman E. Ellingson Prize in Physics, Luther College • Activities: articles in JOM, Tribology Letters, Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, Wear, Langmuir, numerous presentations, including at the American Physical Society and the Physical Electronics Conference.

7 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 7

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News

Nancy Gates Madsen, modern languages and literatures • Luther faculty member since 2006 • Degrees held: bachelor’s in history with advanced study in Spanish area studies; master’s and doctorate in Spanish, University of Wisconsin–Madison • Career path: bilingual teacher, Comayagua, Honduras; Spanish teacher, St. Paul, Minn.; Spanish teaching assistant, University of Wisconsin–Madison; lecturer in Spanish and Freshman Studies, Lawrence University • Areas of research/interest: Colonial and modern Latin American literature and Golden Age literature of Spain • Honors: Dissertator Fellow, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Project 2001 Grant Recipient, Middlebury College Center for Educational Technology; Nave Fellow, University of Wisconsin–Madison • Activities: member, Modern Language Association, Asociación Internacional de Letras Femeninas Hispánicas, Latin American Studies Association; translations, Violet Island and Other Poems, “Venice” and “Varenna”; essays in the book The Art of Truthtelling about Authoritarian Rule and in the journal Letras Femeninas; numerous presentations, including at Latin American Studies Association and Congress, Mid-America Conference on Hispanic Literatures, and the Andrew W. Mellon Conference on Witnessing in Latin America.

• Degrees held: bachelor’s in social work, Luther College; master’s in social work, Augsburg College • Career path: child advocate/ sexual assault victim advocate and adolescent pregnancy prevention coordinator, Helping Services for Northeast Iowa; family preservation/in-home family therapist, Gerard of Iowa; Child Protective Services prevention specialist, Trempealeau County Social Services; visiting teaching associate in social work, Luther College • Areas of research/interest: adolescent pregnancy prevention and sexual health, domestic violence, sexual assault • Honors: John A. Hartford Foundation grant, through the Council on Social Work Education’s Gero-Ed Center • Activities: Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity; Family Support Network, Decorah, Iowa; Mason City Youth Task Force; North Iowa Domestic Abuse Coalition, Mason City, Iowa.

Doug Knick, education • Luther faculty member since 2006 • Degrees held: bachelor’s in religion, Gustavus Adolphus College; master’s of divinity, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary; bachelor’s in social studies, Mankato State University; doctorate in curriculum and instruction, critical pedagogy, University of St. Thomas • Career path: teacher, GFW High School, Winthrop, Minn.; district curriculum coordinator, GFW High School, Winthrop, Minn.; instructor, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minn.; dean of students, GFW High School, Winthrop, Minn. • Areas of research/interest: curriculum, instruction, pedagogy • Activities: director, Delta Institute (equine summer program for at-risk adolescents); numerous presentations, including at the Minnesota School Social Workers Association’s Fall Conference and at the Pedagogy of the Oppressed Conference in New York City; restorative justice governing board, Sibley County, Minn.

Britt (Hellgren) Rhodes ’96, social work • Luther faculty member since 2002. Visiting professor 2002−2003; promoted to assistant professor Fall 2006

Paul Savariappan, mathematics • Luther faculty member since 2007 • Degrees held: bachelor’s in statistics, St. Joseph’s College, University of Madras (India); master’s in statistics, Loyola College, University of Madras (India); master’s and doctorate in philosophy (statistics), University of Madras (India); master’s in bio-mathematics, Marquette University • Career path: visiting assistant professor, Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa); associate professor, Loyola College

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

(Chennai, India); senior lecturer, Loyola College (Chennai, India) • Areas of research/interest: multivariate exponential distribution; tandem and bulk service queuing • Activities: member, American Statistical Association; numerous articles, including in the Journal of Applied Statistical Science and the Pakistan Journal of Statistics; multiple presentations including at the International Conference on Mathematical Sciences, the International Conference on Statistics and Information, Asian Mathematical Conference, and the International Conference on Statistical Inference.

Stephanie Travers, psychology • Luther faculty member since 2006 • Degrees held: associate, Bristol Community College; bachelor’s, University of Massachusetts; master’s and doctorate, Stony Brook University • Career path: postdoctoral research fellow, University of Notre Dame Psychology Department • Areas of research/interest: implicit memory, executive control processes, conscious experience of memory, memory for emotional information, social cognition • Honors: American Psychological Association Dissertation Research Award • Activities: member, American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, Midwestern Psychological Association; ad hoc reviewer, Journal of General Psychology;

8 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 8

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News numerous articles and presentations, including at the Psychonomic Society and the Cognitive Neuroscience Society.

FACULTY/STAFF NOTES

STORM BAILEY (philosophy) presented “Personal and Social Responsibility: 21st Century Sectarian Education?” for the Association of American Colleges and Universities meeting “Educating for Personal and Social Responsibility: A Twenty-First-Century Imperative,” held Oct. 13–15 in Long Beach, Calif. Andi Beckendorf ’93 (LIS) presented “Starting Out on the Right Note: Active Learning Engagement for an Introduction to Music Research” at the Music Library Association Annual Meeting, held in Dallas Feb. 15–18. Her presentation outlined the teaching model and information literacy principles used in working with Luther’s sophomore music students. Beckendorf also served as a member of the Lutheran Summer Music faculty last summer; she taught double bass lessons and performed in two works of Bach and in the chamber ensemble for a staged version of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. A book by ROBERT CHRISTMAN (history)—Doctrinal Controversy and Lay Religiosity in Late Reformation Germany: The Case of Mansfeld—was recently published by Brill Publishers. The monograph, an archival study, analyzes the degree to which common people came to understand Lutheran doctrines by the second half of the 16th century and how these doctrines informed their lives.

of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

RICHARD COLE (professor emeritus of history) and MARV SLIND (history) had articles published in volume 36 of Norwegian-American Studies, released in October by the Norwegian-American Historical Association. Cole authored “Paul Knaplund: NorwegianAmerican Historian,” while Slind authored “Elias Molee and Alteutonic: A Norwegian American’s ‘Universal Language’.”

Carol Gilbertson (English) had her book of poems, From a Distance, Dancing, published by Finishing Line Press in November 2011. A finalist in the Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition, From a Distance, Dancing comprises poems that focus on carefully observed daily experiences that resonate in the body, soul, and mind.

DAN DAVIS (classics) has been selected as a member of the Archaeological Institute of America’s Committee on Marine Archaeology—the leading international advocacy and governing group in the academic field of underwater archaeology.

A chapter by MARK JOHNS (communication studies)— “Voting ‘Present’: Religious Organizational Groups on Facebook”—is included in the book Digital Religion, Social Media and Culture (Peter Lang Publishing, 2012).

KRISTY GOULD (psychology), along with colleagues at University of Nebraska, published the research article “Do Clark’s Nutcrackers Demonstrate WhatWhere-When Memory on a Cache-Recovery Task?” in the journal Animal Cognition.

AMY ENGELSDORFER (music) presented the paper “Trees of Sound and Color: Ruth Crawford and the Five Songs on Poems by Carl Sandburg,” at the Women and the NineteenthCentury Lied conference held at the National University of Ireland at Maynooth Dec. 10. DAVID FALDET ’79 (English) presented “Transformed by the Journey: The Story of Luther College” at the Symposium on Legacy and Leadership held at Concordia University Texas on Oct. 21, sponsored by the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA). NANCY GATES MADSEN (Spanish) had the article “Bearing False Witness? The Politics of Identity in Elsa Osorio’s ‘My Name Is Light’ ” published in Pushing the Boundaries of Latin American Testimony: Meta-morphoses and Migrations, edited by Louise Detwiler and Janis Breckenridge (Palgrave Macmillan Press, 2012).

L U T H E R

GREG JESSON (philosophy)— delivered the lecture “The Barbarians are Inside the Gate: Relativism Undermining Character and Leadership”—Feb. 15 at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

TODD GREEN (religion) had the op-ed piece “Where Is the Courage in College Football?” published on the Huffington Post Nov. 17. In the piece, he contrasts the recent failure of courage in college football in light of the Penn State scandal with the model of courage displayed by Luther’s Chris Norton ’14 following a spinal cord injury he sustained in the Oct. 16, 2010, Luther football game vs. Central College.

A novel by JERRY JOHNSON (public information)—Hunting Birds: The Lives and Legends of the Pine County Rod, Gun, Dog and Social Club—has been published on Amazon.com. The novel is a character-driven story about the lives and misadventures of five 40-something men in Pine City, Minn., a dying small town that has become the lake-cabin playground of the urban rich.

JON JENSEN ’89 (environmental studies, philosophy) was named to the board of directors

Cellist ERIC KUTZ (music) appears on the Taste of the Holidays, Volume 2 CD released by Minnesota Public Radio. The

A L U M N I

CHAR KUNKEL (sociology) served as project leader for the online manual Best Practices in Community Anti-Bias Education by the Diversity Council of Rochester, Minn. The project— the culmination of Kunkel’s 2010–11 sabbatical—received a $5,000 grant from the St. Paul Foundation.

M A G A Z I N E

9 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 9

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News collection features Kutz performing Rene Clausen’s “There Is No Rose” for cello and choir with the Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble.

Your source for Norse apparel

JIM MARTIN-SCHRAMM (religion) is one of three coauthors of the fourth edition of Christian Environmental Ethics: A Case Method Approach (Orbis Books, 2012). GINGER MEYETTE (social work) presented the paper “Grief in the Lives of Lesbians Age 60 and Older” as part of the symposium “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging Research and Practice” at the Society for Social Work and Research conference held in Washington, D.C., Jan. 13. JONATHAN MILES-WATSON (religion) and SUKANYA MILES-WATSON (English) coauthored the article “Conflicts and Connections in the Landscape of the Manimahesh Pilgrimage,” published in a special edition of Tourism: An Interdisciplinary Journal (vol. 59, no. 3). HOLLY MOORE (philosophy) presented the paper “The Transcendental Nature of Anaximander’s ‘Apeiron’ ” at the American Philosophical Association’s Eastern Division meeting held in December in Washington, D.C. JASON MOYER (communication studies) received the Religious Communication Dissertation Award from the Religious Communication Association for his dissertation, “Not Just Civil Religion: Theology in the Cases of Woodrow Wilson, John Kennedy, and Barack Obama,” at the National Communication Association Convention held in November in New Orleans. MARK MUGGLI (English) presented the paper “After the

SHEILA RADFORD-HILL (diversity center) gave the paper “If You Can’t Be Free, Be Indignant: The Womanist Legacy of Malcolm X” at the Emerging Black Studies Discipline II: Malcolm X’s Legacy Conference, held in December at Michigan State University.

Luther College Book Shop Phone (563) 387-1036 or (888) 521-5039 www.lutherbookshop.com Evan Neubauer ’13, Decorah, Iowa; Naomi Sandgren ’14, Fargo, N.D.

First Death, There Is No Other: Except in the Case of Falstaff” at the Blackfriars Early Modern Drama Conference in midOctober. The conference brings together stage practitioners and literary scholars and highlights productions at the American Shakespeare Center, Staunton, Va., the conference site.

Herbert family, with the current earl in attendance. MICHAEL O’BRIEN (music) presented the paper “This Is What Democracy Sounds Like: Mediation and Live Performance in the Soundscapes of the 2011 Wisconsin Pro-Labor Protests” at the national conference for the Society for Ethnomusicology, held in November in Philadelphia. TODD PEDLAR (physics) had the paper “First Observation of the P-wave Spin-Singlet Bottomonium States h_b(1P) and h_b(2P)” published in the Jan. 20 issue of Physical Review Letters. The paper—based on his work with the Belle experiment at KEK, the national accelerator laboratory in Japan—reports the discovery of two never-beforeobserved particles and offers new insight into the strong nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature.

KATE NARVESON (English) presented a paper in Wales at the third international conference on the English poet George Herbert, Oct. 13–17. Her paper, on the contest over spiritual authority between clergy and lay heads of households, was selected for presentation at Powis Castle, hereditary home of the

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

A short story by SÖREN STEDING (German)— “Überrollt,” published in Anthology Mords Spuren—was a finalist for this year’s Odenwaldkrimi Award. ED TEBBENHOFF (history) presented the paper “Godparents and Social Networks in Schenectady, New York, 1680– 1800” at the 126th Annual Conference of the American Historical Association, held Jan. 5–8 in Chicago. ANDREW WHITFIELD (music) received a scholarship from the German Lutheran Church (EKD) for a three-month fellowship in Germany in Summer 2012. Cosponsored by the EKD and the ELCA-Wittenberg Center, the award will allow him to conduct research on the cantata arias of J.S. Bach and to further the study of the German language.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Luther exceeds Miller Challenge Thanks to the generosity of Luther alumni, parents, and friends, the college has exceeded the $1 million Miller Challenge

M A G A Z I N E

10 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 10

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News Donor profile

Couple’s giving helps fulfill Luther’s higher calling in many ways At Luther College we have a and co-chaired the 2011 Twin higher calling to “connect faith Cities Get Down, Give Back with learning, freedom with event benefitting the Twin Citresponsibility, and life’s work ies Young Alumni Scholarship with service.” This statement Fund. is a guiding vision for Luther. Jen also keeps her Luther It’s also a great conversation connections top-of-mind. “If starter with alumni, parents, and I hear of a Thomson Reuters friends. co-worker considering Luther In a recent talk with Jen College for their child’s col(Jenkins) ’95 and Chris Hubbs lege choice, I reach out to that ’89, of Eagan, Minn., this Luperson,” she says. “If I can keep ther couple shared some terrific Luther in the college search coninsights. “For me the word conversation, or if Thomson Reuters nect is what’s important,” says can serve as an internship site Jen, technology consultant for for a Luther student, I try to Thomson Reuters. “It’s not just make it happen.” that we should do what’s expectChris and Jen are terrific amJen (Jenkins) '95 and Chris Hubbs '89 share the benefits of lives filled ed of us, but we’re challenged to bassadors for the Annual Fund, with rewarding work, service, and engaging connections. seek the interconnectedness of too, says Maria (Bringer) Smith people, projects, faith, and life.” ’95, Luther director of annual This is sound reflection from someone giving. “They truly understand how their a corporate leader, I have succeeded.” who communicates and collaborates with annual fund gifts make a difference for all Chris and Jen are quick to say Luther hundreds of people in multiple time zones students, and even more importantly, they taught them to think broadly and beyond and varied cultures in any given week. Jen tell this story to others!” the tasks at hand. A physics major, Jen says smiles and adds, “I am truly a connector at The Hubbses say they had good role her projects and lab experiments spurred her heart. For me, two plus two often equals models for giving while at Luther. Jen’s creative thinking and flexibility. With those five!” grandmother, Ruth Grumstrup, helped skills, she is able to grasp complex subject The concepts of service and life’s work cover the costs of Jen’s junior year. matter and life experiences and blend them resonate with Chris. The idea of servant Though Grandma Ruth is now gone, her into a successful career in technology. leadership is embedded in the corporate legacy and the memory of that special fiChris says, “Jen majored in physics. I like life of Best Buy, where Chris is director nancial help are strong for Jen. to say I majored in economics, management, of demand planning. He leads a team of Chris was inspired by a different kind and tennis.” 45 colleagues who forecast sales demand of giving. He remembers vividly the day For many years Chris and Jen directed for Best Buy’s 1,200 U.S. stores, “I love he looked out his Ylvi window to see their Luther giving primarily to men’s tennis. working with my team,” Chris says. “They Weston Noble ’43 picking up trash on Then they attended the Twin Cities Higher all bring passion and energy to solving campus. “As a first-year student, I was Calling campaign event in October 2005. complex business problems in this rapidly impressed Weston had such an incredible They realized during the course of that evechanging industry. A lot of leaders have commitment to Luther.” ning that consistent and increased giving a tough time balancing freedom with The Hubbses have a daughter, Casey, to the Annual Fund was critical to Luther responsibility. We have the freedom to 10, and a son, Caden, 7. They also serve and its students. Now their enhanced giving pursue economic prosperity, true. But we as godparents to the children of Marnie plan benefits the Annual Fund, men’s tennis, cannot do this without a responsibility to (Kleven) ’89 and Jeff Bigler ’89, and Barb Norse Athletic Association, and the Twin others.” (Hoyt) ’95 and John Dahl ’94. Cities Young Alumni Scholarship Fund. Chris manages his team in accord with They say their robust group of Luther As their giving to Luther increases and the Best Buy belief that employees are put friends continues to grow. When combindiversifies, so does their giving to other worfirst, while also recognizing that most of ing such connections, service, and rewardthy causes such as Children’s Hospital in St. us spend more waking moments with coing life’s work, two plus two really does Paul, Minn., and breast cancer research. workers than with family. “For me, if 45 equal five. The couple’s connectedness has also people are going home from Best Buy ev— Ann Sponberg Peterson grown. In addition to attending all 21 men’s ery day having had a positive work experitennis alumni meets since graduation, ence, feeling good, feeling happy—then as Chris serves on the Annual Fund Council

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

11 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 11

4/17/12 2:55 PM

Campus News ect, go to www.givenow.luther. edu or contact the Development Office at (563) 387-1862. More information about the aquatic center can be found at www. giving.luther.edu. Elise (Kline) Christopherson ’08

goal for the Luther College Aquatic Center. In November 2011, David ’64 and Patricia Miller of Fort Myers, Fla., framed their $500,000 commitment to the aquatic center as a challenge to other donors, matching one dollar for every two dollars contributed by September 2012. With more than $4.72 million now committed toward the proposed $5.5 million facility, the Luther College Board of Regents will be asked to authorize the groundbreaking for the project at its May 11−12 meetings. If authorization is granted, construction on the new aquatic center will begin in Summer 2012. With $780,000 yet to raise, gifts and pledges of all sizes are needed to achieve the overall goal. If you would like to share your support for the pool proj-

Get Down, Give Back benefit adds to scholarship fund Jax Café in Northeast Minneapolis was the venue for Luther’s third annual “Get Down, Give Back” scholarship benefit on Nov. 18, 2011. Alumni of all decades, parents, and friends dressed to the nines for this night of mingling, live music by Classic Jazz, auctions, games, and dancing. Proceeds from ticket sales, silent and live auctions, a

Ronald G. James ’58 and his group, Classic Jazz, provided live music. Other alumni members included Rod Ellickson ’58 and Jonathan Preus ’61. wine-and-beer-grab game, and an on-site Luther Book Shop added more than $10,000 to the existing endowment, bringing

the Twin Cities Young Alumni Scholarship (TCYA) fund to more than $50,000. The idea for the event originated in 2008 after Sue (Gilbertson) Boxrud ’03 and Jim Kowitz ’03 were energized by the Sesquicentennial Fund’s focus on scholarships. While they acknowledged they were young alumni with limited funds, they believed that by planning a fun event and encouraging the support of others, they could raise the $25,000 necessary to establish a scholarship. The scholarship is now a reality. The first recipient of the TCYA Scholarship is senior Kristina Dudley ’12 of St. Paul Park, Minn. She shared in a video message, “It’s great to know that there are alumni out there who care enough to share their time to make “Get Down, Give Back” happen, and guests

Sesquicentennial Fund tops $46 million Luther President Richard Torgerson spread the word about the Sesquicentennial Fund, now in the fifth and final year of the college’s $50 million funding initiative, at January events with alumni and friends in San Diego and Los Angeles.

As of March 31, 2012, the Sesquicentennial Fund stands at $46,703,888—93.4 percent of its $50 million goal. Sesquicentennial Fund as of 3/31/12

Goal

Endowment

$15,315,842

$20,500,000

Current Support

$11,857,248

$10,000,000

Capital/Facilities

$5,928,398

$7,000,000

Total Outright

$33,101,488

$37,500,000

Planned Gifts

$13,602,400

$12,500,000

Grand Total

$46,703,888

$50,000,000

L U T H E R

Alumni and friends in the San Diego area gathered at the home of Regent Tim Oitzman ’87 (far right) on Jan. 14 to hear news of the Sesquicentennial Fund. (Left to right) George Orness ’67, Carole (Rust) Orness ’69, Lori (Beckman) Conway ’83, President Torgerson, Brenna Conway, and Oitzman. Jon Wee ’88 (right) and his wife Leah Vriesman ’88 hosted President Torgerson (left) and 28 alumni and friends from the Los Angeles area at The Comedy and Magic Club following a campaign gathering on Jan. 15.

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

12 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 12

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Kate Petterson ’11 and Kirsten (Eppelsheimer) Hoffer ’09 peruse items available during the evening. to contribute to the scholarship.” This annual benefit, organized by volunteers, is the main vehicle raising funds for the scholarship. Chris Hubbs ’89 and Liesl Koehnen ’09 co-

Print sales benefit scholarship A limited number of color woodcut prints, black and white woodcut prints (matted and unmatted), etchings, drawings, and posters by Orville Running, professor emeritus of art, who died in February, are available for sale. Contact Michelle or Nicole at (563) 387-1862 in the Development Office. All sale proceeds will be added to the O. M. Running Alumni Art Scholarship.

chaired this year’s planning team. Plans are in the works for next fall’s event. To learn how you or your business can get involved, contact Bethany (Bierman) Krepela ’95, leadership giving officer, at biermabe@ luther.edu or visit www.luther. edu/getdowngiveback.

COLLEGE MINISTRIES

Holmberg ’12 takes part in first Youth for Eco-Justice Program Kristi Holmberg ’12 of North Mankato, Minn., participated in the inaugural Youth for Eco-Justice program, held Nov. 26–Dec. 10 in Durban, South Africa. Holmberg, a religion major, was one of a select group of 28 young Christian leaders from 22 countries invited to take part in the program, which examined the links between unsustainable and inequitable patterns of pro-

Event sponsors Luther Blue Sponsor ($2,500), Air Motion Systems; Platinum Sponsor ($1,000), Sears Imported Autos; Gold Sponsors ($500), Bleed Blue–Luther College Men’s Tennis Alumni —Bethany (Bierman) Krepela ’95, leadership giving officer

duction and consumption. “I expected to learn about justice issues related to climate change, but I didn’t expect to participate in so much grassroots-level activism,” says Holmberg, whose expenses were covered by a Fund for Theological Education fellowship. “The experience cultivated a sense of voice and agency that I hope to put to use in our country.” Sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, the program aimed to equip young Christians as “multipliers” for eco-justice, with participants expected to initiate and imple-

GRANTS

Grants top $30,000 Recent grants received by Luther include the following: •$10,000 from Gundersen Lutheran Health System in support of the Luther College Aquatic Center. •$10,000 from Davis Projects for Peace to support post-conflict Angolan orphans and future educators through playing, a student-led project by Isilda Hulilapi ’13. •$5,000 from the Winneshiek County Community Foundation in support of the Luther College Aquatic Center. •$4,000 from Deere & Company for accounting student scholarships. •$1,500 from the Arlin Falck Foundation in support of the 2012 Women, Faith, and Finance seminar. •$500 from the Winneshiek County Community Foundation in support of the 2012 Women, Faith, and Finance seminar.

L U T H E R

Maria Da Silva ’15

Elise (Kline) Christopherson ’08

Campus News

Interfaith dinner series launched Luther students (left to right) Linh Nguyen ’15, Yunfei Xie ’15, Van Anh Nguyen ’15, Claudia Calderon Machicado ’15, Fanding Wang ’15, Berta Antonieta Tilman Pereira ’15, and Antonia Lliteras Espinosa ’12 were among those who rang in the “Year of the Dragon” at the Lunar New Year interfaith dinner held on campus Jan. 22, 2012. The event—which featured an array of East Asian fare as well as remarks by Xiao Hu, Luther assistant professor of music—was the fourth in an ongoing series of interfaith dinners sponsored by College Ministries and the Luther Diversity Center. Amy Zalk Larson ’96, campus pastor, says, “The goal of the dinners is to increase understanding of diverse faith traditions and provide opportunities for students of diverse faith traditions to celebrate significant holidays.” Planned by Sandhya Purohit Caton, Luther interfaith coordinator, this year’s dinner series also included celebrations of the Hindu holiday Diwali, the African-American holiday Kwanzaa, and the Jewish holiday Passover, as well as a reception for the Muslim holiday Eid Al Fitr.

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

13 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 13

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Hau Sian Sua

Campus News

Kristi Holmberg ’12 (fourth from left) joins other Youth for Eco-Justice program participants at an interfaith rally in Durban, South Africa. ment projects in their home countries based on their training and experience. Holmberg’s project involved working with several campus groups to organize a four-week campaign centered around Earth Day that promoted “green acts” like making sustainable lifestyle choices. “All humans bear a responsibility for mitigating climate change,” she says. “It’s truly a global issue.”

Liturgy celebrates ‘joyful stewardship’ Luther College Ministries has collaborated with Hans Peterson ’90 and Larry Olson of Dakota Road Music to produce Liturgy for Earthkeeping—a resource designed to help congregations strengthen connections among sustainability, liturgy, spiritual formation, and joyful stewardship. Commissioned in honor of Luther’s 2011 sesquicentennial, the liturgy celebrates practicing “joyful stewardship of the resources that surround us”—a college mission that drives a multitude of sustainability initiatives, including the long-term goal of a carbon-neutral campus.

The free digital download of Liturgy for Earthkeeping includes bulletin-ready and editable formats. To download it, visit www. dakotaroadmusic.com.

Gardens yield big jump in produce after improvements Luther Gardens harvested 75 percent more produce in 2011 than during the previous growing season, providing a significant increase in the locally grown foods prepared and served by Luther Dining Services. “The gardens grew nearly 200 pounds of basil, more than 300 pounds of mixed greens and head lettuce, 350 pounds of peppers, and more than 325 pounds of multi-colored heirloom cherry tomatoes,” says Maren StummeDiers ’08, sustainable foods

SUSTAINABILITY

Sodexo provides more locally produced foods Luther Dining Services food provider Sodexo Inc. achieved one of its major goals in 2011— surpassing the 20-percent mark in purchases of locally produced foods. And it doesn’t plan to stop there. “Increasing our purchases of locally produced foods will continue to be a focus of our operations in 2012,” says Wayne Tudor, general manager of Sodexo’s campus services. “While we’re pleased to have reached our 20-percent goal for the past year, we plan to increase our purchases of local produce in the year ahead.” Sodexo estimates that it spent more than one-fifth of its food-procurement expenditures for the 2011 calendar year to purchase food produced and proL U T H E R

cessed within a 150-mile radius of Decorah—including yogurt, ice cream, cheese curds, other dairy products, and meats. It also buys local vegetable produce in season, including all produce harvested from the Luther Gardens. The drive to purchase locally produced foods is part of the buy-local commitment made by Sodexo directors in response to consumers’ growing desire to know where their food comes from, how far it travels from the farm to their plate, and how their food purchases affect the environment.

Luther Gardens worker Sarah Forsythe ’15 harvests carrots from the gardens.

A L U M N I

educator and Luther Gardens coordinator. All produce grown in Luther Gardens is purchased by Luther Dining Services. Stumme-Diers credits the production increase to several projects that involved student and staff collaboration. Luther carpenters, for example, constructed raised beds for two garden plots near residence halls and built a hoop house used for starting transplants in the spring and growing spinach in the fall, while college boiler operators helped install a fence for the community garden and create a washing station for produce. Students both proposed and tended two edible landscaping projects—a salsa garden and a diversity garden—that not only produced healthy foods but also brought edible plants into public view by incorporating fruits, vegetables, and herbs into the landscape. Other garden improvements made during the 2011 growing season included improving fencing to control depredation by rabbits, deer, and other animals and erecting quick hoops over rows of produce to extend the growing season by about two months into the fall.

Cargill Foundation grant supports college efforts Luther will implement several more sustainability initiatives, thanks to a $383,612 grant from the Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Foundation. The MAC Foundation grant will support sustainability internships and environmental education outreach programs, as well as a staff coordinator to oversee these efforts. A portion of the funding will be spent outright; the remainder will supplement endowed funds to

M A G A Z I N E

14 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 14

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Campus News Luther is finalist for 2012 Climate Leadership Awards

ensure the continuation of these programs and internships. A new sustainability internship program will help advance the work of the planned Luther Center for Sustainable Communities. The internships will provide students with firsthand experience working with campus and community members to implement sustainability initiatives related to community energy systems, wellness and sustainable foods, environmental education outreach, and land stewardship As part of its environmental education outreach, Luther will expand its sustainability representatives initiative from six students in the current academic year to 11 in the next. The peerto-peer engagement program is designed to build a culture of sustainability on campus. Reps engage students to spread awareness and action through activities such as waste and energy audits, field trips, workshops, and film screenings. The college is also launching the Luther Sustainability Grant Fund to foster and promote sustainable practices. Up to $3,500 will be awarded annually to help implement environmentally responsible, economically beneficial, and socially sensible student projects. Established in 2006 upon the donor’s death, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation supports the broad areas of arts and cultures; environment; relief, recovery and development; aging services; children and families; animal welfare; and planned health.

with the most votes will have the opportunity to be featured in a “Planet Forward” PBS Television special in 2012; all finalists will be featured in a “Planet Forward” weekly webisode or newsletter.

Luther has been named a finalist in the 2012 Climate Leadership Awards program. Award recipients will be honored at the 2012 ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit, held June 21–22 in Washington, D.C.

Here comes the sun: Solar energy to power Baker Village If all goes as planned, the college’s Baker Village residential complex will soon be powered by solar energy. In January the city of Decorah granted Luther a special permit to install a 280-kilowatt solar photovoltaic electrical-generating facility and dedicated underground transmission line on approximately two acres of college property along Pole Line Road. The following month, the Decorah City Council approved the site plan for the project.

Now in its third year, the Climate Leadership Awards are a project of Second Nature, a nonprofit sustainability advocacy organization that operates in conjunction with the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The awards recognize innovation and excellence in climate leadership at signatory institutions of the ACUPCC, of which Luther is a charter member. Finalists are selected in five Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education; Luther was one of four schools— along with Allegheny, Carleton, and Spelman colleges—named as finalists in the baccalaureate division. Each of the finalist colleges and universities produced a short video highlighting the innovations that contributed to their finalist selection. The videos were then entered in a national voting competition that took place in March and April at the Planet Forward website. (To view Luther’s video, visit http://planetforward.org/idea/ luther-college-working-to-reducetheir-carbon-footprint-by-50/.) Viewers voted on the most innovative and groundbreaking institution in each Carnegie Classification. The institutions

L U T H E R

“This project represents one more exciting way Luther is showcasing environmental stewardship and taking seriously its leadership as a charter signatory institution of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment,” says Jim Martin-Schramm, Luther professor of religion and project coordinator. When complete, the 1,250-panel solar array is expected to be the largest in Iowa. Decorah Solar Field—owned by Decorah resident Larry Grimstad—will build the facility, designed by Twin Cities-based Dragonfly Solar. Luther plans to lease the facility for seven years and hopes to purchase it thereafter. An all-electric complex, Baker Village employs geothermal energy for heating and cooling. It houses approximately 100 of the college’s 2,500 students.

This 3.78 kilowatt solar array, installed in Summer 2011, powers Sustainability House on campus. Plans are under way to construct a 1,250-panel solar array that will provide all the electricity needed to power the college’s Baker Village residential complex.

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

15 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 15

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Campus News STUDENT NEWS

Chips captures national award for online site Chips, Luther’s student newspaper, received an Online Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) at its national convention, held in Orlando, Fla., in October 2011. The award recognizes excellence and outstanding achievement by a collegiate online publication. Chips competed against other colleges and universities of 5,000 students or fewer nationwide. ACP, the oldest and largest national membership organization for college student journalists, launched its national Pacemaker Award competition in 1927; the award is considered the highest national honor in American collegiate journalism. “The writing, editing, photos, videos, and headline choices all figure into the judges’ decision,” says David Faldet ’79, professor of English and Chips faculty adviser, who credits the award to a redesign of the pa-

per’s site at the beginning of the 2010–11 academic year. Aung Ye Naing ’11 served as Web manager during the redesign; Liz Smith ’10 and Natalie Baudler ’10 served as student editors. “I sat down with Naing, Liz, and Natalie in Fall 2010 to redesign the site—we looked at other sites and tried to pick their best features,” Faldet says. “The finished design was Naing’s; he did amazing work, carrying out the ideas we discussed.”

American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR) program.

Meghan McCall ’12 Carlin—a Russian studies and political science major—is spending the Spring 2012 semester in Vladimir, also with the ACTR program.

Fulbright-Hays scholarships fund study in Russia for two seniors Meghan McCall ’12 of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Paul Carlin ’12 of Lawler, Iowa, received Fulbright-Hays scholarships from the U.S. Department of Education for study in Russia. McCall—a Russian studies, German, and political science major—spent the Fall 2011 semester studying Russian in Vladimir, Russia, with the

Paul Carlin ’12 Enacted in 1961, the Fulbright-Hays program was created to ensure scholars would receive the critical overseas education experiences necessary for developing high levels of language and area expertise.

$10,000 Projects for Peace grant goes to Hulilapi '13 Isilda Hulilapi ’13 of Luanda, Angola, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Davis Projects for Peace to create an early education program for orphans of the Angolan Civil War. Hulilapi, who is majoring in mathematics and computer science at Luther, will travel this summer to Luanda, the capital and largest city of Angola, to convert spaces at the Lar Kuzola orphanage to a learning center where children can engage in activities that will give them

The redesigned homepage at Lutherchips.com L U T H E R

A L U M N I

self-confidence and inspire them to learn. Activities will include games, music, storytelling, dancing, painting, and drawing. The project will provide art and craft supplies, storybooks, sports equipment, and musical instruments. Hulilapi said her project could provide opportunity for the impoverished orphans of Lar Kuzola to take the first steps toward education and socialization that can change their lives. “I want the children to become more involved in the society,” Hulilapi said of the youth of Lar Kuzola, a refuge for more than 300 children orphaned by the civil war that ravaged Angola for some 30 years. “Most of these children lost their confidence due to lack of parental guidance or someone to take care of them,” Hulilapi said. “They end up losing their personal touch, which segregates them from the rest of the society. And because of the nature of my community, if you are less fortunate it defines who you will be. “So having this project will give these children a chance at a different life,” she said. Hulilapi came to Luther as a Davis United World Colleges Scholar after attending the Red Cross United Way College in Norway. In her childhood, she attended Instituto Naçional da Educaçao Marista, a Catholic primary, secondary, and high school in Luanda thatß is virtually across the street from Lar Kuzola orphanage. The Davis Projects for Peace program is made possible by Kathryn Wasserman Davis, who established the program

M A G A Z I N E

16 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 16

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Campus News Benzschawel ’12, Mulhausen ’12 earn ACM photography honors Megan Benzschawel ’12 and Lindsey Mulhausen ’12 received second-place awards in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) OffCampus Study Photo Contest. The ACM colleges—a consortium of 14 independent liberal arts institutions—are pioneers in creating off-campus study programs and opportunities for students in the United States and around the world. The organization’s photo contest was begun in 2008 to celebrate the varied off-campus experiences of students enrolled at ACM colleges; more than 130 photos were entered in this year’s contest. Benzschawel earned second-place honors in the “people” category for her photo “Mothers in Mourning,” taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in Spring 2011, while she was enrolled in the Institute for Study Abroad–Butler University program in Mendoza, Argentina. Her photograph captures some of the many mothers who

“Missing Pieces,” by Lindsey Mulhausen ’12 have gathered in the Plaza de Mayo each week since 1977 to hold vigils for the more than 30,000 people who disappeared during Argentina’s state-sponsored “Dirty War” (1976–83). Mulhausen earned second-place honors in the “artistry” category for her photo “Missing Pieces,” taken in India during her Summer 2011 studies with an International Studies Abroad program. The photo captures pomegranates on display at an Indian market. Mulhausen also earned an honorable mention citation for her photo “Father’s Love.” All three photographs—as well as all other winning photos—were featured in a traveling exhibit hosted by all ACM colleges during the spring semester. Luther displayed the photos in Dahl Centennial Union in February. To view all winning photos, visit www.acm.edu/ features/ACM_photo_contest.html.

that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution, and intercollegiate athletics and must intend to continue academic work as a graduate student. The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually. Rob Larson, Luther faculty athletic representative, says Spoon “is a great example of a student not only maintaining the balance between being a student and an athlete but also excelling at both.” Spoon completed her crosscountry career in Fall 2011, earning All-America honors after placing 18th in a field of 277 runners at the 2011 NCAA III National Cross Country Championships. She has also earned all-Central Region honors twice—placing sixth in 2010 and fourth in 2011—and captured two Iowa Conference individual championships. A two-time league MVP, Spoon helped lead the Norse to Iowa Conference and Central Region team championships in 2010 as well as two trips to the national championships. The Norse placed sixth at the national meet in 2010 and 23rd in 2011. Spoon, a biology major, has a cumulative grade point

“Mothers in Mourning,” by Megan Benzschawel ’12

in 2007. Now in its fifth year, Davis Projects for Peace invites undergraduates at the American colleges and universities in the Davis United World College Scholars Program to design grassroots projects they implement during the summer. The objective is to encourage and support motivated youth to create and try out their ideas for building peace.

student-athletes—29 men and 29 women who competed in fall sports. To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must be nominated by his or her athletic department, have an overall grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent, and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved in a manner

ATHLETICS

Spoon ’12 receives NCAA postgraduate scholarship Luther All-America cross-country runner Emma Spoon ’12 has received a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) postgraduate scholarship. The NCAA awarded onetime, non-renewable educational grants of $7,500 to 58

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

Cross country runner Emma Spoon ’12 is Luther’s 33rd NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient.

M A G A Z I N E

17 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 17

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Campus News average of 4.0. She plans to attend graduate school for education or medicine. Spoon is Luther’s 33rd student-athlete and the eighth student-athlete in the past six years to receive this award.

O’Gara ’05 named to WIAC Wrestling All-Time Team

Jeff O’Gara ’05, Luther assistant wrestling coach, is one of 26 wrestlers named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling All-Time Team. He will be recognized at the WIAC Centennial Banquet, to be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison in August. O’Gara wrestled for UW–La Crosse from 1992–96; his career record of 111–14 is tied for 10th in school history. While at UW– La Crosse, he three times earned All-American honors at 118 pounds, taking third in the nation in 1993, placing second in 1994, and claiming the national title in 1996. He also won conference titles in 1994 and 1996. O’Gara has been Luther head coach Dave Mitchell’s lead assistant since 1996–97.

Winter sports Men’s basketball Tie for fourth in IIAC, 17-9 overall, 10-6 in IIAC In the final game of the regular season, the men’s basketball

team lost a hard-fought 78-71 overtime decision to Coe College in Cedar Rapids. The victory secured the outright regular season title for the Kohawks, and cost the Norse a chance to win back-to-back league titles for the first time. After posting a 63-60 win over Central College in the first round of the IIAC six-team tournament, the Norse were defeated by Coe in the semifinals 67-57. The semifinal loss ended the best two-year string in Norse basketball history in 30 years. Last year, the Norse posted a record of 19-9. Combined with this year’s mark, Luther posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1980-81 (13-11) and 1981-82 (23-4). The Iowa Conference recognized Tyler Wedemeier ’13, Dane Larson ’12, and John Androus ’14 with postseason awards. Wedemeier was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league in blocked shots (2.69 per game), ranked second in defensive rebounds (6.13 per game), and third in total rebounds (7.9 per game). He was credited three times during the season with five blocks, one shy of his single-game career record of six against Concordia University, during a first round game of the NCAA III National Tournament last season. Wedemeier is the second consecutive Luther player to be named the IIAC’s top defensive player. Last season, Jacy Dillahunty ’11 got the award. Larson was a first-team allconference honoree. Last year’s IIAC Most Valuable Player, Larson finished the 2011-12 campaign fifth in the league in scoring (14.9 points per game) and sixth in assists (3.13 per game). He completed his career scoring 1,251 points, which ranks eighth on Luther’s all-time scoring list. His 227 career assists record ranks fifth.

Androus was a second-team honoree. He led the IIAC for field-goal shooting percentage (57.7), while scoring 11.8 points and collecting 7 rebounds a game. He was also listed among the top fifteen players for assists per game, dishing out nearly two per contest. Matt Zellmer ’13 was named to the Iowa Conference allacademic team.

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

Women’s basketball Eighth in IIAC, 6-19 overall, 3-13 in IIAC The women’s basketball team set a single-game school record for field-goal shooting percentage in its 80-63 victory over Central in Pella. The Norse shot 62.2 percent connecting on 28 of 45 attempts. Taylor Johnson ’14, who led the Norse in scoring with 371 points and rebounding with 198, was named second-team all-Iowa Conference. Johnson completed the 16-game league schedule ranked fifth in scoring, posting an average of 14.3 points per game, and ranked sixth in rebounds, collecting 7.4 per contest. Her shooting percentage of 43.7 ranked 10th and her free-throw shooting percentage of 74.3 ranked 15th. She was also credited with seven double-doubles. Samantha Cuvelier ’14 and Alison Scheevel ’12 were named to the Iowa Conference allacademic team. Men’s Indoor Track and Field Fifth in IIAC championships Luther finished the Iowa Conference Indoor Championships in fifth place with 64 points. Wartburg won the team title with 210.5, followed by Central with 182, Loras with 84.5, and Dubuque with 65.5. Individually, five Norse earned all-conference honors by placing in the top three of their respective events. Andrew Papke-Larson ’12 became the Iowa Conference

A L U M N I

champion in the mile (4:22.47). Right behind him and also earning all-conference honors in this event was Logan Langley ’13 (4:23.14) Peter Kraus ’12 and Scott Mittman ’14 placed second and third respectively in the 3,000-meter run. Kraus posted a time of 8:41.95, which ranks fourth all-time on Luther’s charts. Mittman ran the sixth fastest time in school history at 8:46.44. Joel Clarke ’15 placed third in the 60-meter hurdles (8:53). He qualified for the finals with a time of 8.51, a new school record. Dalen Dirth ’12 finished second in the heptathlon and qualified for the NCAA III Indoor Championships at the same time. He was runner-up by two points, posting a qualifying point total and school record of 4,689. The distance medley relay of Langley, Robert Matthiesen ’12, Max Molzahn ’12, and Papke-Larson also earned allconference honors with a third place finish. Dirth earned All-America honors at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships. He placed fifth in the heptathlon posting a seven-event total of 4,829 points. His point total was a new school record and 140 points better than his qualifying mark. Women’s Indoor Track and Field Fourth in IIAC Championships Luther finished fourth in the Iowa Conference championships with 69 points. Wartburg, the top-ranked team in the nation, cruised to the team title with 317, followed by Loras with 82.5 and Central with 71.5. Emma Spoon ’12, Christina Storlie ’13, and Sam McAllister ’12 earned individual all-conference honors. Spoon and Storlie placed second (18:00.81) and third (18:33.07) respectively in

18 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 18

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Campus News the 5,000-meter run. McAllister was the conference runner-up in the 800-meter run (2:21.44) as was Storlie in the 3,000-meter run (10:39.13). McAllister’s time ranks ninth all-time at Luther. Runners in the distance medley and the 4x800 relays also earned all-conference honors. The foursome of Maggie Pierson ’14, Jordyn Dudek ’14, McAllister, and Melissa Erickson ’12 placed second in the distance medley relay, while Pierson, Bailey Mulholland ’15, Spoon, and McAllister placed second in the 4x800 relay. Spoon also received a National Collegiate Athletic Association postgraduate scholarship. Men’s Swimming and Diving IIAC Champions, 6-2 dual-meet overall The men’s swimming and diving team captured their eighthconsecutive Iowa Conference title and closed the Liberal Arts Championships in a tie for second place with Illinois Tech at 521 points. Lindenwood University placed first with 1,018 points. Individually, Nathan Maloney ’14 led the squad with six medal performances. He placed third in both the 200 (1:54.06 ) and 400 (4:11.93) individual medleys, setting school records. His time in the 200 individual medley was also an NCAA B-cut qualifying mark. Maloney also swam the first leg of the 200 and 400 medley relays, which placed second and third respectively, the third leg of the 400 freestyle relay that finished third, and swam the anchor leg of the third-place 800 freestyle relay. Tim Cutler ’13 and Zack Kuntz ’14 swam on three of the medal performing relays, while Eric Hild ’13 and Sam Weinberg ’15 swam on two. Brady Watson ’15 and Jon Hagen ’14 swam the second and third legs of the 200 medley relay.

was named Women’s Coach of the Meet for the seventh time. The Iowa Conference also decides its league champion at this event, and the Norse cruised to their eighth championship in a row. Since the inception of the IIAC Championships, the Norse have captured nine of 10 titles. In dual meets this season, Luther finished 7-1 overall, bringing the seniors’ four-year record to 27-4. Drewes’s times in the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley qualified her for her first appearance at the NCAA III National Swimming and Diving Championships. She returned as a two-time honorable mention All-American. The top-eight swimmers that advanced to the A-Finals earned All-American honors, and the next eight swimmers that qualified for the B-Finals are considered honorable mention All-American. Drewes advanced to the B-Finals for both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. She finished seventh in both B-Finals posting times in the 100 breaststroke of 1:05.42 and 2:22.27 in the 200 breaststroke. Drewes’s qualifying time for the NCAA championships in the 100 breaststroke was 1:04.25—a Luther school record. She holds the school record in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.72). Her fastest time in the 200 individual medley (2:13.12) was established at the Liberal Arts Championships. Mykleby, Chella Bhagyam ’13, Leslie Rawson ’13, Christina Scharmer ’14, Amanda Take ’14, and Erin Voelschow ’12 were named to the Iowa Conference allacademic team.

The Iowa Conference also decides its league champion at this event, and the Norse captured their eighth consecutive league title, ninth in the 10-year history of the championship. In dual meet competition, Luther was 6-2 overall, bringing the seniors’ four-year record to 25-6. Women’s Swimming and Diving IIAC and Liberal Arts Champions, 7-0 dual-meet overall Three school and Liberal Arts Championships records propelled the women’s swimming and diving team to its sixth consecutive Liberal Arts Championships team title. The Norse posted a three-day total of 802 points, finishing 119 points ahead of runner-up Lindenwood University. Erin Mykleby ’12 established an individual school record in the 200 backstroke with a first place finish of 2:07.52. The relay team of Mykleby, Stephanie Drewes ’12, Amelia Ladd ’13, and Erin Connolly ’14 set Liberal Arts Championships, Luther school, and Principia College pool records, with first place finishes in the 200 medley relay (1:48.23) and 400 medley relay (3:58.00). Head Coach Lance Huber

Stephanie Drewes ’12 returned from the NCAA III National Swimming and Diving Championships a two-time honorable mention All-American.

Wrestling Third in IIAC A much-improved Luther wrestling team spent the majority of the season ranked in the top-10 of the NCAA III, while compil-

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

Trent Flegel ’13 earned AllAmerica honors, finishing sixth in the NCAA III National Championships. ing a dual meet record of 13-5. With nine new wrestlers in the line-up for the Iowa Conference Championships, the Norse placed third at this year’s season finale, after posting a sixth-place finish a year ago. Trent Flegel ’13 (197) was among four Norse who qualified for the 2012 NCAA III National Championships. He made the most of his first appearance at the tournament, earning AllAmerica honors with a sixthplace finish, the highest finish in last two years for a Luther wrestler at the national tournament. Other Norse who qualified for the national championships were Daniel Mendoza ’14 (125), who qualified for the second year in a row, placing third in conference; and Kyle Windquist ’13 (141) and Conner Herman ’15 (285), who both qualified for the first time. Windquist and Flegel were conference runnersup and Herman placed third. Evan Obert ’15 (133), Stephen De La Cruz ’13 (149), and Garrett Bonte ’14 (165) missed qualifying for nationals by one match, placing fourth in their respective weight categories. Jacob Seibert ’12 was named to the Iowa Conference allacademic team.

19 CampusNews_spring_2012.latest.indd 19

4/17/12 2:56 PM

Career fairs are among the many tools the college provides students to help them prepare for life after graduation.

Ready for the World The college helps prepare students for life after Luther in meaningful ways. By Sara Friedl-Putnam

he hub of student activity, Dahl Centennial Union is rarely quiet during the academic year. But the building was especially alive with conversation on a spectacular spring day in March. Representatives from a slew of corporations—Mutual of Omaha, Larson Allen, Epic Systems, PepsiCo, and more—were on campus to meet one-on-one with Luther students eager to learn more about diverse employment opportunities with the companies. The college’s annual spring career fair is one of the many ways Luther strives to help its students make successful and fulfilling employment choices. Each year the Luther Career Center also hosts a graduate/professional school day and a fall career fair, as well as fairs focused on opportunities at nonprofit organizations and summer camps. “Behind-the-scenes” services offered by the center include mock interviews and assistance writing résumés and cover letters— “just that professional polish vital to securing a placement,” says Keley Smith-Keller,

Career Center director. Internships the Past Five Academic Years Students can also find help landing internships, 250 externships, job-shad208 owing placements, and 198 200 other experiential learn178 166 161 ing opportunities that 150 help instill skills needed for meaningful work. 100 “In 2010–11, about 20 percent of first-year 50 students, 33 percent of sophomores, 50 percent 0 of juniors, and 66 per2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 cent of all seniors had some kind of service contact with the Career Center,” Smith-Keller says. “As students get older, they have a report—based on survey responses from greater need for these services, and that just nearly 96 percent of class members—98 permakes sense.” cent of respondents were actively employed, As the Post-Graduation Activities Report attending graduate or professional school, for the Class of 2011 shows, those contacts volunteering, or not seeking employment. were well worth making. According to that Seventy-five percent of respondents reported

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

20 CAREERS.FINAL APRIL 9indd 20

4/17/12 3:02 PM

First Destination of 2011 Graduates

98%

of responding May 2011 Luther College graduates were employed, attending graduate or professional school, volunteering, or not seeking employment

that their employment was related to their career goals. “That percentage jumps to 82.3 percent if you assume that students enrolled in graduate school and those continuing their education are engaged in ‘career goalrelated’ activities,” Smith-Keller says. Those statistics are particularly compelling for potential students (and many parents) seeking evidence of successful job and career placement. And they aren’t a fluke. “Luther College postgraduate data shows a consistent pattern,” the post-graduation report notes. “In examining the previous five years of data, Luther College graduates solidly find employment, attend graduate school, or volunteer at the same rates—good economy or poor.” An increased emphasis on experiential learning—the college revamped its January term, effective in 2007, to bolster such programs—has no doubt increased the opportunities available to Luther graduates. Sixty-seven percent of the college’s 2011 graduates reported participating in some type of experiential learning while at Luther— externships, job shadowing, January term internships, other for-credit or not-for-credit internships, or on- or off-campus research. Such experiences not only allow students to acquire valuable experience that help them gain a competitive edge when seeking employment or applying to graduate school, but also inevitably help them figure out what they actually want to do for a career. “It’s important to test drive the world of work because you don’t know about something unless you try it on, so to speak. Trying on a career opportunity in a little or a big way is vital to satisfaction and making sound choices about career direction,” Smith Keller says. “Sometimes the things you try on might not be what you really want, but you still learn from them.” While many Luther students take the lead in securing internships or other experiential learning opportunities, the Career Center assists the approximately 250 stu-

Employed 62.3% Graduate School 17.5% Continuing Education 9.5% Volunteer 6.5% Other 2% Still Seeking 1.9%

dents each year who need or want guidance to find the right fit—often with the help of a loyal and diverse alumni base willing to take on interns, externs, or job shadowers in the workplace. “We don’t place students, but we can help make opportunities happen,” Smith-Keller says. “As career counselors, we’re good at helping students come up with strategies and find ways to place opportunities in front of themselves.”

Internship Spotlights Ben Jordan ’12, internship at KGAN-TV, CBS News, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Golf and broadcasting are two of Ben Jordan’s greatest passions. Jordan, a communication studies major from Waterloo, Iowa, honed his golf skills by competing for the Norse—an experience he calls “one of the most rewarding I’ve had at Luther.”

An academic endeavor—his senior paper on television broadcasting—opened the door to an internship at the KGAN-TV studios in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that would feed his other passion. “I interviewed two sports anchors at KGAN for my paper,” he says. “They told me to talk to the news director and they would help work it out.” The anchors lived up to their word—and Jordan spent January 2012 helping a few of the station’s news and sports reporters cover their beats. He learned how to prepare and present stand-up shots (reporters on camera). He wrote news releases for the website. He

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

even helped write scripts for broadcast. “The internship helped me realize that broadcast journalism is what I want to do with my life, career-wise,” says Jordan, who is seeking a job in news or sports reporting. “It was such an exciting experience, and it showed me that I can find a job that I truly enjoy.” Emily Voss ’13, internship at Jill Wachter Photography, New York “A fantastic first experience in the world of commercial and fashion photography” is how Emily Voss ’13 describes her January 2012 internship with Jill Wachter, a top fashion photographer in New York whose client list includes L’Oréal, W Hotels, Target, HBO, Condé Nast Publications, and Sony. “I had a very hands-on experience,” says Voss, an art and Spanish major from Wausau, Wis. “I worked directly with Jill Wachter and did any task she needed assistance with, including helping with model casting, photo

Emily Voss ’13 poses for Jill Wachter during her January 2012 internship with the acclaimed fashion photographer.

M A G A Z I N E

21 CAREERS.FINAL APRIL 9indd 21

4/17/12 3:02 PM

shoots, photo editing, paperwork, organizational tasks, and contacting potential clients.” A member of the Luther Photo Bureau, Voss displayed considerable gumption in securing the internship—she sent her résumé and online portfolio to several of the nation’s top fashion photographers, even though, as she puts it, “I didn’t honestly expect an opportunity to arise.” But Wachter liked what she saw and soon contacted Voss to craft an experience that would show the Luther junior exactly what it takes to make a living in the fast-paced and competitive field of commercial photography. “My internship was an inspiration because it showed me that it really is possible to follow your dreams,” Voss says. “Living in New York for a month was a great opportunity, and I built a network of connections in the industry that will be beneficial in landing internships or jobs in the future.”

Sarah Stadie ’11, internship at Winnie’s Place, Moline, Ill. While at Luther, Sarah Stadie ’11, a women and gender studies and political science double major from Davenport, Iowa, interacted with everyone from the college’s regents (as a student representative to the board) to much of its student body (as a student senator, church council president, and assistant hall director). But assisting women in crisis at Winnie’s Place, a shelter for women in Illinois who are homeless or survivors of violence, was altogether new. “I gained a lot of confidence interacting with the women served by Winnie’s Place and providing referrals to other community resources,” says Stadie, who worked directly with clients and staffed the center’s crisis line during her internship at the Moline, Ill.-based agency. The experience she gained at Winnie’s Place has served Stadie well since she graduated from Luther in May 2011—since August she has been a community educator

Sarah Stadie ’11 handles a call on the Winnie’s Place crisis line during her internship at the Moline, Ill.-based social service agency.

The Gundersen Lutheran-Luther connection Luther professor emeritus of biolBlake Funke ’13 knows she will spend ogy, and Ed Overholt Sr., former countless hours prepping for the Gundersen Lutheran director of MCAT and filling out medical school medical education and research, first applications in the coming year. teamed up to arrange internships for And she’s just fine with that. some of the college’s students. (In Funke, a biology major from Hopmore recent years, Art Ross, former kinton, Iowa, has been certain she director of medical education at wants to pursue a career in medicine the medical center, and Kyla Lee, a since January 2011, when she served Gundersen Lutheran internist, have an internship at Gundersen Lutheran built on the solid foundation that Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. Overholt laid.) “I spent the majority of my time According to Keley Smithshadowing medical residents and Keller, Luther Career Center direcphysicians in various departments in Luther students (left to right) Fran Fairfield ’11, Augie Lindmark tor, Gundersen Lutheran is one the hospital—I observed surgeries, ’12, Nolan Winslow ’12, and Blake Funke ’13 received hands-on of many institutions—including sat in on patient appointments, and instruction on conducting electrocardiograms and echocardiograms Winneshiek Medical Center in essentially saw firsthand what a day during their January 2011 internships at Gundersen Lutheran Decorah, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, in the life of a physician is like,” says Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. and the University of Iowa in Iowa Funke, one of four Luther students City—that regularly open their who interned at the medical center doors to Luther students seeking that January. “We also had sessions team, where I played an active role in the exposure to the medical profession. Over where we learned about topics like suturpatient-provider relationship. I scrubbed in the decades, literally hundreds of stuing, reading chest X-rays, and performing for surgeries, met with former medical school dents, including Funke, have benefited stress tests—it was extremely interactive.” admissions committee members, and learned from that generosity. Fellow Gundersen Lutheran intern more about medicine than I could have “I took away a wealth of knowledge (and biology major) Augie Lindmark ’12 imagined. It was a memorable, all-encomabout what it takes to be a physician concurs. “The internship wasn’t just a passing exposure…that solidified my interest during my internship,” she says. “There’s shadowing experience—it was an immerin medicine.” so much more that goes into it than just sion,” says the Red Wing, Minn., native. Gundersen Lutheran has helped students seeing patients, and I had never realized “For a month, I was a resident physician. discover (or confirm) their callings for some that.” …I was integrated into the health-care four decades, ever since Russ Rulon ’58,

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

22 CAREERS.FINAL APRIL 9indd 22

4/17/12 3:02 PM

for children at the D.C. Rape Crisis Center in Washington, D.C., through the Lutheran Volunteer Corps.

Launching Luther Leaders

Rewant Lokesh ’11, internship at Welspun India, Mumbai, India Rewant Lokesh ’11 spent January 2010 back home in India, where he had graduated from Mahindra United World College of India in 2007. The region’s mild temperatures provided a welcome respite from Decorah’s frigid winter weather, but Lokesh, a management major, had his mind on other things. As a supply chain intern at the corporate headquarters of Welspun India, he worked in inventory management for the company, manufacturer and exporter of towels, rugs, and bed sheets to some of the largest retailers in the United States.

Rewant Lokesh ’11 learned the nuts and bolts of computerized inventory management while interning at Welspun India in January 2010. Lokesh says, “Working with the supply chain management team at corporate headquarters helped me better understand basic international outbound and inbound logistics, inventory management, and PPC [pay per click] using SAP software.”

Online videos: More students tell what they did and learned during their internship experiences. Go to www.luther.edu/jterm/videogallery.

Alex Tomesch ’12, a biology major from Bettendorf, Iowa, has never shied away from being a leader. Captain of his high school football team, he earned his Eagle Scout wings— the highest Boy Scout rank attainable—as a teenager while helping lead the school’s chamber choir. At Luther, Tomesch continued to seek ways to expand and enhance his leadership skills. “Launching Luther Leaders,” also known as “L3”—a program offered through the college’s Student Life Office—intrigued him from the start. “The most beneficial thing that I’ve taken from L3 is the interaction I’ve had with the wide variety of leaders who are taking part in it,” says Tomesch, one of 12 Luther students who will earn leadership certificates (the program’s first) this spring. “Being able to sit down and talk about issues and share our different experiences has helped all of us become better, more effective leaders.” That assessment is music to the ears of Ann Highum, vice president and dean of student life, who teamed with Jon Lund, former associate dean for student life, to launch the program in Fall 2010. “We wanted to coordinate the many, many things we do in the area of leadership,” she says of developing the program. “We felt like we were going in the right direction in terms of offering opportunities, but there wasn’t any kind of cohesiveness to those efforts.” Now under the direction of Highum and Jane (Greene) Hildebrand ’74, assistant dean of student life, “L3” boasts three distinct components—the Leadership Skills Series (seminars and workshops on a wide range of topics, open to all Luther students), the Leadership Certificate Program (students must apply or be nominated), and the Student Leadership and Service Awards Program (the Black Student Union, i-ImpactNow, and the Alpha Beta Psi sorority received the inaugural awards last spring). Highum admits that she and Hildebrand, like the student participants, are learning as they go and as the program

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

grows. “We’re noting which workshops and seminars really attract student attention and which get a more ho-hum reaction,” she says. “Our goal is for all interested students to have the opportunity to learn about their own leadership abilities—how they can use those both while they’re here on campus and after they graduate, and how they can best articulate the leadership skills they possess to a future employer or graduate school admissions committee.” Tomesch, for one, believes the program got off to a solid start. He credits it with helping him reach his potential both in the football huddle—he was elected by his teammates to serve as co-captain of the Norse squad this past fall—and in the classroom in courses such as “Human Dissection and Anatomy,” which he took in January 2012. “That course was student-driven to the point that we even wrote our exams for each other,” he says. “Using the skills I developed through the L3 program, I was able to take the lead in several situations and help get things done in a much more effective and efficient manner.” Ashley Matthys ’12, a communication studies major from Red Wing, Minn., shares neither Tomesch’s academic nor his cocurricular interests—she’s a Chips editor and cross country runner—but has found participating in the “L3” program just as fruitful. “L3 has helped me assess and improve upon my strengths as a leader,” she says simply. With 22 students—all in the class of 2013—having begun the leadership certificate program last fall, a sophomore group of 24 emerging leaders, and a full slate of workshops being planned for the coming year, the future of L3 looks bright. “Students are seeing the events on campus and are associating them with the Launching Luther Leaders program,” says Highum, who will retire this May after 21 years of service to the college. “We are really proud of how this program is evolving—it will be even better in a few years—and of the 12 individuals who earned the first certificates, and who will represent the college so well.”

M A G A Z I N E

23 CAREERS.FINAL APRIL 9indd 23

4/17/12 3:02 PM

Traveling man Marriott’s new CEO, Arne Sorenson ’80, is exploring the world and helping it thrive By Ellen Modersohn

Ruth (Christenson) and Arne Sorenson ’80 summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last summer on a trip with their children.

ast December, Arne Sorenson ’80 went out for a run in Haiti. He was in the earthquake-shattered nation to sign a hotel deal for Marriott International. But as he wound through chaotic streets, past a tent camp, and through a slum, he got lost. When he finally found his way back to his hotel, incredulous colleagues asked, “Are you an idiot?” But Sorenson was not rattled. By getting off the usual track, he says, “You end up seeing people in a way that you don’t if you’re in a bubble, and that’s what I absolutely love.” A keen curiosity about the world drives the man who in March became CEO of Marriott International. Sorenson “gets local,” as he calls it, to experience cultures for himself whenever he can. He revels in the sensory overload of places such as India and Haiti, discerning the cultural trends that can not

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

only help Marriott grow but also foster sustainable living around the planet. Sorenson set himself up for a versatile career when he chose law school after graduating from Luther. He majored in religion and business management as an undergraduate, earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, and specialized in mergers and acquisitions at the highly regarded Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C. He then climbed the Marriott ladder after he helped the company negotiate a deal that changed its corporate structure. It might seem that he knew early on what direction he wanted his life to take. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he says. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.” He ended up going to law school without knowing much about the field but thinking, “I can do more than one career” with a law

M A G A Z I N E

24 Sorenson Spring 2012.indd 24

4/17/12 3:32 PM

Dorothy and Morris Alvin “Bo” Sorenson Jr. ’49 were

missionaries in Japan when their three sons and a daughter were born, Arne arriving in 1958. Bo had entered military service at age 17, just as World War II ended. He spent a year in Japan and then enrolled at Luther. After attending Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., Bo and his new wife, Dorothy, headed for Tokyo. “They thought Japan was the place to be right then,” their son says, emphasizing that “Japan in those times was totally different

than it is today.” The country was trying to get back on its feet after the war, and Sorenson recalls cobbled-together buildings and crowded streets overhung with wires. In 1968, when Arne Sorenson was seven, the family moved to St. Paul. Bo had joined the Division of World Missions of the American Lutheran Church, which kept him traveling to more than 50 countries during his tenure. Sorenson would follow in his father’s footsteps, exploring the world. First, he attended Luther; both of his grandfathers, Morris Alvin Sorenson Sr. ’20 and Otto Austin ’12, were alumni as well. And as a college student, he made his first trip abroad on his own. The Middle East Council of Churches was hosting a meeting of young adults from around the world in Beirut in the summer of 1979. “Notwithstanding an ongoing war in Lebanon, my dad

(Far left) The Sorenson family—Arne is second from left—return to St. Paul, Minn., for a visit in 1965. At the time, they lived in Tokyo, Japan, where Bo and Dorothy did mission work. (Left) A young Arne with grandfather Morris Alvin Sorenson Sr. ’20.

Marriott International

degree, he said. J.W. “Bill” Marriott, who led the hotel chain for four decades, saw that potential in Sorenson, too, when he hired him away from the law firm in 1996 to help guide business development at Marriott. Sorenson quickly became a leader at the company, as chief financial officer and then chief operating officer. Marriott, who remains chairman of the board, had no qualms about Sorenson becoming chief executive officer, the first in the company’s 85-year history outside the Marriott family. “Arne’s wicked smart,” he told the Washington Post. Sorenson’s global outlook is also a strong qualification for running a chain with hotels in 72 countries and territories. And that is something he really has been working on his whole life.

J.W. “Bill” Marriott, left, led Marriott for 40 years. The company, which began as a restaurant chain, now has hotels in 72 countries and territories. Arne Sorenson, right, became Marriott CEO in March.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

25 Sorenson Spring 2012.indd 25

4/17/12 3:32 PM

he encounters as he travels enthralling. He has lots of favorite places but really loves India. “It’s very relevant from a business perspective—it’s a big growth area for the global market,” he says. On a personal level, it’s a thrill. “India is an absolute riot of color. It’s sensory overload: all kinds of people, all kinds of aromas—some good, some not so good—the people are extremely friendly, there are fabulous sights to be seen, it’s rich in local culture, and I think the food is great,” he says. Seeing how people around the world live helps Sorenson address Marriott’s biggest challenge, which he says is how to stay relevant so the company can grow. “The challenge is dramatic acceleration in growth outside the U.S. The challenge is to become truly global in having non-Americans in leadership roles, in corporate headquarters, and in decision making in the field,” he says. The Ruth and Arne Sorenson family—Isaac, Astri, Esther, Ruth, Arne, and Lars—traveled in Tanzania last summer. When schedules allow, the family loves to explore the world together. Arne and Ruth savor the uninterrupted time with their children. “Travel is a great thing to be able to do with the kids,” Arne Sorenson says. “I get them every hour of every day." encouraged me to go,” Sorenson says. “It was one of the great experiences of my life.” He and another Luther student, Erik Weiberg ’81, made a summer of it, traveling for 14 weeks. They wound their way through Europe and then spent about a month in the Mideast, mostly in Lebanon, but also visiting Syria, Jordan, and Israel. The tumult of the region made a deep impression. “The morning we flew into Beirut the Greek papers had headlines about fighters being shot down over Lebanon … and we heard later that a refugee camp we were in was bombed moments after we left. … There was gunfire in the city every night. Perhaps most haunting, I remember once when a 13- to 14-year-oldboy pointed his machine gun at us threateningly, only to smile and laugh when he sensed that we were friendly to him.” At the meetings set up by the Council of Churches, the young men met Lebanese and Palestinian leaders—Muslim and Christian—as well as historians and theologians. Sorenson says they learned a great deal about the extreme complexity of the country and the region. Sorenson calls the trip life-changing for reasons many students share when they travel abroad: the firsthand exposure to other cultures, having to take responsibility for himself in a new place, and the intense experiences. Touring a region embroiled in such a historic conflict also gave him a sharper perspective on current events of global importance.

The transformative journey

was the first of many Sorenson has undertaken. He and his wife, Ruth, have traveled with their four children all over the world, to India, Russia, East Africa, the Middle East, Egypt, and various European nations. A couple of years ago, the Sorensons’ daughters, Astri, 24, and Esther, 22, raised the idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The plan simmered for a while and then, last summer, the whole crew made the trip, including sons Isaac, 20, and Lars, 16. “We’re thrilled that the kids are still interested in getting in on a family trip and that everyone’s schedule allowed that,” Ruth says. Arne Sorenson called the Kilimanjaro climb one of the best trips of all time. For six days, the family walked slowly up the mountain, accompanied by porters. “You are encouraged to walk slowly,” Ruth says, to adjust to the altitude. “You are acclimating constantly. There were some headaches along the way, but we were really thrilled that we all made it to the top.” She points out that the experience of climbing the mountain has changed over the decades: “A friend recalls that when he climbed it in the ’70s, he passed only one or two groups. Now it’s a pretty steady stream of people hiking to the top. You hear lots of languages as you’re going up, and you meet Italians, Canadians, Germans, and others.” Arne Sorenson finds the mix of cultures

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

Sorenson says a liberal arts education provides a good base to fig-

ure out those relevancies. Learning through the liberal arts, he says, is “about curiosity, what’s happening with trends … . What do people want to do? What do they want to eat? What do they look for in a hotel room?” The liberal arts education also fosters a habit of learning, he says. “It’s about listening, about collecting input, and involvement.” And of Luther he says, “The more people who get to go there, the better.” That’s why he has supported the college throughout his career, serving on the board of regents and

Arne Sorenson followed his father and both grandfathers to Luther, where he majored in religion and business management, served as a resident adviser for three years, and sang bass.

M A G A Z I N E

26 Sorenson Spring 2012.indd 26

4/17/12 3:32 PM

Marriott International

Children of Boa Frente, Brazil, gather with attorney Mark London, back left, and Arne Sorenson for a photo. Boa Frente is a small community in the Amazon rainforest. Marriott partnered with the state of Amazonas and the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation to help protect 1.4 million acres of rainforest. strategic planning committees, and contributing in many other ways. Luther, he says, is a place to learn, train, and grow up in a liberal arts atmosphere. Sorenson did plenty of stretching and growing while he was a student. The undergraduate knew how to pull off a good prank, such as the time he released a pig onto center court of an away basketball game at Wartburg. He recalls smuggling the animal into the gym in his jacket. The pig was painted with a couple of choice words to give the Knights a whiff of what the Norse thought of them. But he also vividly remembers his classes and professors, such as Loyal Rue, whose sociology of religion class “was just the greatest conversation,” and Harris Kaasa ’50, who taught Old Testament history and whom Sorenson deemed “the salt of the Earth.” President E.D. “Buck” Farwell was also an influential figure, helping Sorenson along with some of that needed growing up in the late ’70s. Farwell “was such a fabulous leader,” Sorenson says. “I walked into his office one day—I probably wasn’t even wearing shoes—suggesting that he fire one of the

members of his team. He could have said, ‘Thank you, son, get out.’ But instead I got an open, patient effort by somebody to listen and use the moment to teach.” Sorenson met his wife, Ruth Christenson, at Luther. She was a Decorah native attending St. Olaf at the time. Her father was minister at First Lutheran Church, and the family ran the Whippy Dip. Their first encounter was when she dished him up an ice cream cone, Sorenson says. “But she remembers the guy I was with, not me.” Years later they began dating and married after Sorenson earned his law degree and completed a clerkship for a federal judge in New York.

Sorenson has found ways to give back to other communities that have helped shape his world outlook. For instance, he and Ruth have funded an ELCA and Lutheran World Relief initiative that fights malaria, especially in Africa. He has also worked on projects aimed at helping people around the world develop sustainable lifestyles. One such program L U T H E R

A L U M N I

involves villagers at the headwaters of the Yangtze River in China. To give the local people a way to survive without resorting to deforestation, Marriott encourages sustainable honey production. The Marriott hotels in China use the honey in their restaurants and sell it in their gift shops. The proceeds benefit the rural villages where it is produced. “Marriott’s associates in China love the effort and feel they are making a difference,” Sorenson says. Discovering the right approach to sustainability for a company like Marriott has to make economic sense, Sorenson says. Marriott is large enough that it can drive the market on some products. “We buy something like 20 million pens a year” for guest rooms, he says. So the company worked with suppliers to provide biodegradable pens made from recycled materials. A similar effort resulted in getting enough low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints to supply the hotel chain. Not all of Marriott’s efforts have been as successful. In 2008, it launched a rainforest preservation partnership with the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation in Brazil.

M A G A Z I N E

27 Sorenson Spring 2012.indd 27

4/17/12 3:32 PM

Marriott International

Sorenson career timeline Marriott International

1958 Born in Tokyo, Japan

Arne Sorenson meets staff at a Marriott hotel in India. The key goal for the international chain, Sorenson says, is to remain relevant so the company can grow: “The challenge is dramatic acceleration in growth outside the U.S. The challenge is to become truly global.” “We adopted 1.5 million acres to give customers a way to help save the Amazon,” he says. Hotel guests could buy carbon offset credits, and Marriott began working with the people of Amazonas to make sure they, too, would have alternatives to deforestation. The company provided education and training in small-scale agriculture, fishing, and harvesting nuts. But while Marriott’s corporate clients have participated in the carbon offsets program, customers as a whole have not. “Consumers really don’t use the power they have to help the environment,” Sorenson says. The CEO looks for ways to use his own consumer power, even driving what he considers an ugly car with poor handling, a Toyota Prius hybrid, to promote more eco-friendly vehicles.

He drives the Prius a mere seven miles to work each day, from his home in Chevy Chase, Md., to Marriott headquarters in Bethesda, Md., and happily points out that his commute is in the opposite direction from the flow of rush-hour traffic. That means he can spend more time with his family in the renovated Victorian home they’ve

lived in for more than 20 years. Sorenson says the couple bought their home for the porches. “The porches were just inviting, and a great way to enjoy the neighborhood action,” Ruth Sorenson agrees. The elementary school the kids went to is right across the street. Very handy, Ruth Sorenson says. “The kids could be eating cereal, hear the bell, and dash out the door.” She volunteered often at the kids’ school, including helping organize spectacular productions such as The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado with more than 100 children. She has also taught preschool music for many years, served in many capacities at Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., and is on the boards of organizations that bring the arts into schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods and that serve homeless and low-income women. Arne Sorenson’s life of purpose and capacity for curiosity may have taken him to the other side of the world, and certainly to a higher altitude, from Decorah, but when he and Ruth take a moment from their busy lives to relax on those welcoming porches, they say it’s very much like being in a small Midwestern town.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

1980 Earned bachelor’s degree in religion and business management from Luther 1983 Earned law degree from the University of Minnesota law school 1984- Worked his way to partner in 1996 law firm of Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C. 1996 Senior vice president of business development of Marriott International 1998 Chief financial officer and executive vice president of Marriott 2000 Luther strategic planning committee 2003 President of Continental European Lodging added to his Marriott title 2005 Distinguished Service Award from Luther 2007 Luther board of regents and sesquicentennial strategic planning committee 2008 Helped launch partnership with Amazonas Sustainable Foundation in Brazil; WalMart board of directors 2009 Chief operating officer of Marriott 2011 Elected to Marriott’s board of directors 2012 Chief executive officer of Marriott

M A G A Z I N E

28 Sorenson Spring 2012.indd 28

4/17/12 3:32 PM

Spectacular views, intriguing people Students share images from their study-away experiences

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

29 study away 2012.indd 29

4/17/12 3:22 PM

Previous page: View from an incline in Valparaiso, Chile. Kelsey Reger ’13; Language and Culture in Argentina and Chile; January Term 2012

Men carving boats in Cape Coast, Ghana. Ryan Fett ’12; Christianity, Slavery, and Their Representations in Ghanaian Literature; January Term 2012

A panorama stitched from photos taken from the northern wall of the slave dungeon at the seaside town of Elmina in Ghana. Justin Ratzlaff ’13; Christianity, Slavery, and Their Representations in Ghanaian Literature; January Term 2012

The Roseway schooner at sunset, docked in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Caitlin Stensrud ’13; “Tales of the Sea” on the Windjammer, Roseway; January Term 2012 The cathedral in Cádiz, Spain. Holly Godar ’13; Academic Programs International; Spring 2012.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

30 study away 2012.indd 30

4/17/12 3:22 PM

Burano, Italy, an island near Venice, Italy, known for its lace and colorful buildings. Chelsea Tegels ’13; Nantes, France, with IES Abroad; Spring 2012

Small fishing town on the coast of Ireland. Chelsea Wyman ’13; Tolkien and Lewis in Context (England/France); January Term 2012

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

The New City Hall in Hannover, Germany. The building was finished in 1913 but needed major repairs after the bombings of WWII. Kirsten Jacobson ’11; student teaching at St. John’s International School, Waterloo, Belgium, Fall 2011

M A G A Z I N E

31 study away 2012.indd 31

4/17/12 3:23 PM

Dancer dressed for the Carnival festivities in Valletta, Malta. Haylee Elvendahl ’12; Malta Semester Abroad; Spring 2012

An olive vendor at a spice market in Istanbul, Turkey. Cassandra Bormann ’12; Mosque and State: Turkey and Jordan; January Term 2012

Village women carry water from a well in Durshet, India. Megan Benzschawel ’12; Contemporary India: Development, Environment, Public Health; Alliance for Global Education; Pune, India; Fall 2011

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

32 study away 2012.indd 32

4/17/12 3:23 PM

Zongo Dancers in Kumasi, Ghana, perform a traditional dance in an alleyway. Shannon Koenders ’13; Christianity, Slavery, and Their Representations in Ghanaian Literature; January Term 2012

A view of the architecture and artwork of St. Basil’s Cathedral on Moscow’s Red Square. Meghan McCall ’12; American Council of Teachers of Russian; Fall 2011

A cow relaxes in a Tibetan Buddhist meditation area in Dharamsala, India. Megan Benzschawel ’12; Contemporary India: Development, Environment, Public Health; Alliance for Global Education; Pune, India; Fall 2011 L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

33 study away 2012.indd 33

4/17/12 3:23 PM

An octopus found while night tide-pooling at Dump Reef, San Salvador, Bahamas; Leslie Rawson ’13; Biology of the Coral Reef; January Term 2012

A Maasai warrior guide talks to Professor Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80 at Eluwai Boma in Tanzania. Kali Sharot ’12; Anthropology in East Africa: Culture Change Among the Maasai (Tanzania); January Term 2012

Whitehaven Beach stretches for miles along Whitsunday Island, the largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Rachel Samuelson ’12; AustraLearn; Fall 2011 L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

34 study away 2012.indd 34

4/17/12 3:24 PM

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL May 2012

Last spring 76 percent of Luther seniors and 24 percent of seniors at Midwestern universities participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement. As self-reported responses, they reflect engagement by students in the learning process and the strength of community at Luther. In regard to various measures of success, students were asked how often they:

Perhaps the best way to thank alumni, parents, and friends for their ongoing support of Luther College is to share an example of some of the positive comments I receive in my role as President. A parent of a Luther College senior wrote, “The Luther community seems to genuinely value the connections between the intellectual life and … goodness. I shouldn’t be surprised: faith, learning, freedom, responsibility, life’s work, and service. I’ve never known an organization to actually live up to its marketing claims in the way that Luther does. I have often regretted my own undergraduate decision. Luther was my second choice.” We work hard as an institution to convince high school seniors Luther should be their first choice. With all the options out there, why should a student choose us? Recently a consultant who has worked with colleges and universities across the country for the past 20 years told the Board of Regents that Luther is one of only a few colleges he knows that fulfills its mission—a statement so simple, its impact could be lost. This consultant and the mother I quote above confirm that Luther is a place that transforms lives. Though there are countless narratives that describe how Luther does this, I want to share some data that tell the story in a different way.

Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework. Often/Very Often • 80% = Luther College • 50% = Midwest universities Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor. Often/Very Often • 59% = Luther College • 35% = Midwest universities Participated in cocurricular activities Often/Very Often • 91% = Luther College • 64% = Midwest universities Felt their college experience has contributed to their knowledge, skills and personal development in developing a deepened sense of spirituality. Often/Very Often • 78% = Luther College • 40% = Midwest universities Experienced high-quality relationships with faculty members. Available, Helpful, Sympathetic • 74% = Luther College • 46% = Midwest universities Had a high quality of academic advising. Good/Excellent • 88% = Luther College • 69% = Midwest universities

It is gratifying to see this data and to know that Luther serves its students well, preparing them to go out into the world and make a difference in the organizations and communities they serve. In this tough economy, Luther graduates continue to do well. In the past year, the Career Center served 74 percent of the senior class, and over the past six years, 97 percent of our graduates report employment, graduate school, professional school, or volunteerism six months after graduation. We fulfill our mission only because we have a foundation of support from alumni, parents, and friends like you. Every time you share the Luther story; help a student with career networking; attend an alumni gathering, athletic event, or concert; volunteer for Luther; and pledge financial support, you are transforming the lives of our students. We celebrate the generous support of donors at the President’s Council level listed in the following report. On behalf of the students whose lives you help transform, thank you for your steadfast loyalty to the mission of Luther College. Soli Deo Gloria!

Richard L. Torgerson, Ph.D. President

NOTE: The President’s Council Life Members lists (pp. 38–40) recognize donors whose CUMULATIVE giving to Luther College has reached $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2011. All other lists (pp. 40–48) recognize donors who have given $1,000 or more to Luther College in the past calendar year—January 1–December 31, 2011—ONLY.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

35 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 35

4/17/12 3:18 PM

The following pages list the individuals and organizations who have provided financial support to Luther College of $1,000 or more in the past calendar year, January 1–December 31, 2011, and also those who have provided $100,000 or more to the college cumulatively through December 31, 2011. In recognition of their leadership in giving, these donors qualify as members of the Luther College President’s Council. All gifts at this level—including annual fund support which qualifies for additional recognition as Leadership Trust Benefactors—are included in the list of President’s Council donors. Gifts at all levels are vital in providing scholarship assistance for students, ensuring the success of academic and cocurricular programs, and meeting needs for technology, equipment, and facility maintenance and replacement.

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL LIFE MEMBERS This is a permanent record of recognition of those whose cumulative outright gifts total $100,000 or more, those who have established irrevocable planned gifts with remainder interest present values of $100,000 or more, those who have made irrevocable gifts of life insurance policies with cash values of $100,000 or more, or those who have contributed combinations thereof, as of December 31, 2011. The President’s Circle commemorates these pioneer presidents of Luther College: Peter Laurentius (Laur.) Larsen, served 1861–1902; Christian Keyser Preus, 1902–21; Oscar Ludvig Olson, 1921–32; Ove J.H. Preus, 1932–48; and J.Wilhelm Ylvisaker, 1948–62.

The Larsen Circle

The Preus Circle

Recognizes those whose cumulative gifts given as of December 31, 2011, total $1,000,000 or more.

Recognizes those whose cumulative gifts given as of December 31, 2011, total $500,000 to $999,999.

INDIVIDUALS Bruce ’68 and Janis (Zube) Altorfer ’70 †Arthur and †Helen Austin David Carlson ’85 David ’63 and Brenda (Landsgard) Carlson ’73 R. Eric ’61 and Cynthia (Aal) Carlson ’63 †Bert and †Bernice Cross †Bert and †Mildred Dahl †Edward Dahly Shelby and Gale Davis †Ervin and †Phyllis Johnson Orville and Kathleen Johnson Douglas ’82 and Shelly Kintzinger Jewel Kintzinger Day and Burtwin Day †John Kintzinger †Leon and †Helen Koebrick David ’64 and Camille Kundert Bradley ’86 and Jane (Dalen) Miller ’86 Neal ’59 and Gerry (Mosby) Nottleson ’59 †Milton and †Dorothy Roelfs Steven Schaver ’76 and Asunta Eizaguirre †Edgar ’38 and †Gerda Sersland Rebecca (Linnevold) ’71 and Robert Shaw

INDIVIDUALS Anonymous †E.J. and †Betty Altorfer Rich ’74 and Candy (Grimm) Altorfer ’73 †E.E. “Ray” ’59 and Shirley (Klingsheim) Bentdahl ’59 †Arthur ’30 and †Mary Louise Bergee Ronald ’59 and Gene (Flom) Calgaard ’58 †Roy ’26 and †Helen Carlson †Lillian Ellerman Daryl ’61 and Audrey (Pederson) Erdman ’61 John and Marilyn Gilbert †Thomas and †Frances James †Herbert ’32 and Kay Johnson ◊Sandy and Mick Lee ’57 †Tilmar Moilien ’34 Donald Nelson Weston Noble ’43 Marti (Tomson) ’84 and William Rodamaker ◊Arne ’80 and Ruth Sorenson Charleen Wilkins

ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Nena Amundson ’56 Estate of Malcolm ’30 and Maybelle Estrem CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS American Lutheran Church Gardner & Florence Call Cowles Foundation Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Iowa College Foundation The Kresge Foundation Lilly Endowment Inc. Microsoft Corporation F.W. Olin Foundation Inc. Qwest Communications International Inc. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

ESTATE GIFTS *Estate of Patricia Gunderson ’70 Estate of Leo Schafee CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS ◊Bank of the West (formerly Community First National Bank) Bruening Rock Products, Inc. Fred Carlson Company, Inc. IBM Corporation R.J. McElroy Trust Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Teagle Foundation Incorporated

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

36 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 36

4/17/12 3:18 PM

The Olson Circle Recognizes those whose cumulative gifts given as of December 31, 2011, total $250,000 to $499,999. INDIVIDUALS Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Jutta F. Anderson †Glenn Bergland ’39 †Helen Bestul †John ’33 and Mildred Breiland ’33 Alan ’55 and Sally Brudos Russell Bruemmer ’74 Wilfred ’53 and Ruth (Jensen) Bunge ’51 John and Carole Lea Cotton †Kathryn Engebretson ’77 E.D. and Helen Farwell George and Joann Hagen †Kermit ’38 and †Jane (Haugen) Hanson ’39 †Lucille Heintz Richard ’65 and Joann (Harr) Hemp ’65 Helen (Peterson) ’52 and Jack Hustad Dennis and Carole Johnson Darlene (Peterson) ’55 and Robert Jones Douglas ’73 and Sandra Kratz David ’69 and Julie Larson Ellen (Hanson) Lindop ’46 †Paul ’49 and Justine (Holum) Lionberger ’50 David Lubben ’74 and Nancy Kwam Glenn Nelson and Mary Jane Borelli Virginia Nelson †Carleton ’49 and Barbara (Orwoll) Nordschow ’49 Curtis Reiso ’54 †Jeanne (Preus) Rost ’41 Walter ’59 and Amelia Rugland †Vernon Serfling John ’58 and Donna (Ferden) Suby ’59 Robert ’58 and Janet (Purmort) Tollund ’73 †Ollie ’49 and Pipka Ulvilden Michael Voltmer ’74 †Russell and †Margaret Wicks Michael and Barbara Wigley Robert and †Jean Wigley

ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Robert Amunrud Estate of Wilbur Dosland Estate of Evelyn Evenson Estate of Harry and Selma Hougan Estate of David Knudson ’61 Estate of Gordon Luce ’49 Estate of Duane Monette ’69 Estate of Ronald Olson ’65 Estate of William Seabold Estate of Halberta Steensland *Estate of Ruth Steinmetz Estate of Laura Stoin CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS Bush Foundation *The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Carlson Materials Company Inc. The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations Davis United World College Scholars Decorah Bank and Trust ExxonMobil Foundation The Jessie F. Hallett Charitable Trust Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation Inc. Luther College Woman’s Club Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Foundation Northwest Area Foundation The Presser Foundation Thanks to Scandinavia, an Institute of the American Jewish Committee Voltmer Electric

The Ylvisaker Circle Recognizes those whose cumulative gifts given as of December 31, 2011, total $100,000 to $249,999. Individuals Anonymous Anonymous †Maynard ’39 and Minerva Aaker H. George and Christine Anderson Jeffrey Anderson ’84 and MaryEllen Palmquist Anderson ’84 Lloyd and Kathy Anderson M.C. Anderson ’54 John and †Mabel Bale

†Sissel Berdal *Alvin Berg ’55 Roger and Carol Berg Jon and Stephanie Bergquist Susan (Maclay) ’64 and Paul Blackman Donald ’51 and Wanda Blockhus Marilyn Bohl ’56 Alvin ’54 and Marion Brekken †Harley and Joyce Carlson Dennis and Jolene Elmore James Field ’54 Dennis ’68 and Jean Flatness Timothy ’67 and Janet (Strube) Fleming ’67 Luther ’49 and Ilene (Knutson) Forde ’46 Callista (Bisek) ’88 and Newt Gingrich J Bruce ’62 and Cosette (Cross) Goetsch ’63 William ’61 and Dianne Halling †Henry and †Janet Halvorson Gene ’63 and Suzanne Haugland Ronald and Lisa Have Adrian ’41 and †Evelyne Helgeson Sheldon ’52 and Renee (Aust) Hermanson ’54 Betty Hoff ’60 †James ’49 and †Elizabeth Holey Robert and Arlene Houlihan †Reuben ’28 and †May Jacobson †Erling ’31 and †Geneva Johnson Glen ’70 and Kathy (Selzer) Johnson ’71 Timothy Jones and Annie Cardelus Marvin and Mary Klocke *Stephen ’63 and Susan Kraabel Wendell ’58 and Judith (Davidson) Larsen ’60 Constance (Dahl) Larson ’45 O. Dale ’61 and Patricia Larson David Lietz ’88 and Suzette Westlyn Derrevere †Walter Magnuson Ronald ’57 and Marilyn (Lokensgard) Martinson ’57 Paul ’81 and Miri (Peterson) Mattson ’81 Paula (Hermeier) ’76 and Kurtis Meyer ’76 David ’64 and Pat Miller †Esther (Stephens) Miller ’37 Victoria (Dahly) ’73 and Randal Miller ’73 Martin Mohr and Mary Lou Hull Mohr Bjorn ’64 and Margot Monson †David Nelson ’49 and Betty Rikansrud Nelson ’57 Corinne and Harland Nelson

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

37 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 37

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Stephen ’81 and Kari Noltner Alan ’61 and Linda Nordhem †Hildred (Kronlokken) ’54 and Franklin Norman Timothy ’87 and Molly Oitzman Marsha (Weckwerth) ’82 and Lee Olch *Carole Olson Donald ’48 and Dorie Olson †Edwin and Thelma Overholt Steven ’68 and Connie (Marlow) Overholt ’71 *J. Robert ’78 and Barbara Paulson Steven ’78 and Solveig (Storvick) Pollei ’79 †Esther Porter †Florence Preus †Lucile Brickner Brown Price †Mary Margaret Roberts ’44 †Esther Rodda Robert ’51 and Lucille Rosholt Marilyn (Haugen) ’66 and Jeff Roverud ’66 *Dale ’62 and Catherine Ruosch J. Stephen ’68 and Lin (Mathieu) Schmidt ’70 †Floyd and Mary Lou Sollien ’68 Jon and Rebecca Stellmacher Karen (Mathews) ’65 and Mark Stuart Sterling ’50 and †Vila (Kiel) Thompson ’51 †Henry Tollefson Paul ’73 and Rebecca (Larson) Torgerson ’73 Richard and Judith Torgerson Joan (Catlin) ’63 and David Totten Jerry ’57 and Barbara Twedt Thomas ’62 and Juanita Vaaler Joseph ’80 and Greer Whitters John ’57 and Carol Witt †Arlo ’43 and Agnes (Kvaase) Woolery ’43 †Paul ’39 and Mary Anne Wulfsberg Enwei Xie ’94 and Lynn Tonglao †James Ylvisaker ’60 ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Margaret Baker Estate of Ruth Benson *Estate of Karen Berg Estate of Clara Bonthron Estate of David Borders ’73 Estate of Michael ’38 and Betty Borge Estate of Edwin Bottolfson ’22 Estate of O.L. Enstad Estate of Marie Gunther

Estate of O.M. Haaland Estate of Alvida Hale Estate of Lucille Hamilton Estate of Carole Hanson ’60 Estate of Dorothy Haugen Estate of Herbert Jacobson ’33 Estate of Martin ’19 and Avis Jenson Estate of Betty Juhasz Estate of Linka Kempf *Estate of Delores Kudej Estate of Elizabeth Nasvik Estate of Leo Naughton Estate of Inga Nelson Estate of Justin ’41 and Milly (Meyer) Nelson ’44 *Estate of Alice Paulson Estate of Melvin Rasmussen Estate of Walter ’29 and Nora Rugland Estate of Maynord Steensgard ’52 Estate of Genevieve Stelberg Estate of Josephine Thostenson Estate of Gertrude Tingelstad ’41 *Estate of Henrietta Torgerson ’39 Estate of Theodore Vagts Estate of G. Norman Wigeland CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS The American Scandinavian Foundation *Associated Colleges of the Midwest Col. L.C. Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation John Deere Foundation First Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa Homer and Martha Gudelsky Family Foundation Ernest W. Hallett Charitable Trust Hawkeye Stages Inc. The Hearst Foundation Inc. Hormel Foods Corporation Interstate Power Company The Joyce Foundation W.K. Kellogg Foundation *Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company The William Penn Foundation Research Corporation Dr. J.E. Salsbury Foundation S.C. Johnson Wax Fund Inc. Spahn & Rose Lumber Company

*Attained Life Membership and President’s Circle membership during the 2011 calendar year lPresident’s Council life member(s) whose cumulative giving increase from last year resulted in a move to the next President’s Circle level

President’s Council Calendar Year Donors President’s Executive Cabinet Recognizes those whose gifts given from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011, total $50,000 or more. INDIVIDUALS Bruce ’68 and Janis (Zube) Altorfer ’70 Rich ’74 and Candy (Grimm) Altorfer ’73 °David ’63 and Brenda (Landsgard) Carlson ’73 °R. Eric ’61 and Cynthia (Aal) Carlson ’63 °Rolf ’91 and Deirdre Brekken °Betty Hoff ’60 °Timothy Jones and Annie Cardelus °Douglas ’82 and Shelly Kintzinger °David ’64 and Camille Kundert Constance (Dahl) Larson ’45 °Sandy and Mick Lee ’57 Eileen Lueder °Alan ’61 and Linda Nordhem °Neal ’59 and Gerry (Mosby) Nottleson ’59 Drew and Cheryl Pellett °Marti (Tomson) ’84 and William Rodamaker °Arne ’80 and Ruth Sorenson Susan Tjornehoj ’76 and David Wangaard Cheryl Westrum Bressler ’79 and Richard Bressler ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Karen Berg Estate of Patricia Gunderson ’70 Estate of Delores Kudej

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

38 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 38

4/17/12 3:18 PM

President’s Academy

Estate of Alice Paulson Estate of Ruth Steinmetz Estate of Iris Storaasli Estate of Amanda Swadberg Estate of Henrietta Torgerson ’39

Recognizes those whose gifts given from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011, total $10,000 to $24,999.

CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS Associated Colleges of the Midwest The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust °Decorah Bank and Trust Sodexo, Inc. °Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

President’s Associates Recognizes those whose gifts given from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011, total $25,000 to $49,999. Individuals Anonymous °Alvin ’54 and Marion Brekken °Russell Bruemmer ’74 °David Carlson ’85 °Helene (Rowe) Furst ’48 Ingeborg (Bader) Goessl ’60 °Alice (Hogenson) Kienberger-Iverson ’54 and Melvin Iverson Mary Kust °David Lietz ’88 and Suzette Westlyn Derrevere °David and Patricia Meyer °Dale and Sunny Nimrod °Robert ’51 and Lucille Rosholt Ronald Seaver ’54 °Rebecca (Linnevold) ’71 and Robert Shaw °Joan (Catlin) ’63 and David Totten Michael and Barbara Wigley °Enwei Xie ’94 and Lynn Tonglao ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Sharon (Wells) Hotchkiss ’59 Estate of Anna Swadberg CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS IBM Corporation Iowa College Foundation

INDIVIDUALS Margaret Baird ’87 °Charles ’73 and Ann (Christensen) Beatty ’75 Ann (Gulsvig) ’67 and John Bergstad John ’59 and Dorothy Brugge °Ronald ’59 and Gene (Flom) Calgaard ’58 °Evelyn (Henderson) Costley ’41 John and Carole Lea Cotton °Dennis Day ’65 Jonathan ’90 and Dawn Doering E.D. and Helen Farwell James Field ’54 Dennis ’68 and Jean Flatness John and Marilyn Gilbert °Leon and Linda Gregg Larry and Diane Grimstad Ronald and Lisa Have Mark ’71 and Lois (Lebakken) Helland ’71 Richard ’65 and Joann (Harr) Hemp ’65 Ann Highum and Jerry Freund °David ’66 and Carole Hoyem Helen (Peterson) ’52 and Jack Hustad °Glen ’70 and Kathy (Selzer) Johnson ’71 Kenneth and Jeanette Kinsey °Stephen ’63 and Susan Kraabel °Lyle Kruegel ’63 °David ’69 and Julie Larson William ’56 and Maxine Losen David Lubben ’74 and Nancy Kwam Dale and Kathleen Lyndahl °James and Karen Martin-Schramm °Paula (Hermeier) ’76 and Kurtis Meyer ’76 °Bradley ’86 and Jane (Dalen) Miller ’86 Bjorn ’64 and Margot Monson °Phoebe (Hoiness) ’61 and Rolf Nelson °Roald ’54 and Ruth Nelson Stephen ’81 and Kari Noltner °Steven ’68 and Connie (Marlow) Overholt ’71 °J. Robert ’78 and Barbara Paulson Alexander Platt °Steven ’78 and Solveig (Storvick) Pollei ’79 °Marilyn (Haugen) ’66 and Jeff Roverud ’66 °Walter ’59 and Amelia Rugland

Dale ’62 and Catherine Ruosch °Steven Schaver ’76 and Asunta Eizaguirre °J. Stephen ’68 and Lin (Mathieu) Schmidt ’70 °Sara (Gunther) Sersland ’70 Melvyn ’63 and Ingrid (Jacobson) Smith ’63 °Susan Sorlien ’73 and Thomas Jones David ’77 and Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80 °Steven ’81 and Carmen (Hansen) Stenhaug ’82 °Scott ’89 and Laura (Anderson) Stevens ’92 °Brad ’81 and Meg Thompson °Sterling Thompson ’50 Robert Thomson °Diane (Baum) ’72 and Gaylord Thormodsgard °Richard and Judith Torgerson Rolf Ulvestad Michael Voltmer ’74 Joseph ’80 and Greer Whitters Norbert ’61 and Helen (Knutson) Wurtzel ’57 ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Floyd Sollien CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS Davis United World College Scholars ExxonMobil Foundation First Citizens Foundation Luther College Woman’s Club Subway Upper Iowa Audubon Society °Wells Fargo

President’s Society Recognizes those whose gifts given from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011, total $1,000 to $9,999. INDIVIDUALS Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

39 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 39

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Scott Addington ’69 °Darrin ’90 and Amy Ahrens Sherry (Braun) Alcock ’82 Dennis Amundson ’73 and Stephanie Brodine Hazel (Milbrath) Amundson ’39 Richard ’64 and Barbara (Moen) Amundson ’65 °Terry Anderson ’62 Calvin and Betty Anderson Dennis and Corinne Anderson °H. George and Christine Anderson James ’74 and Patricia Anderson °James ’50 and Ruth (Aas) Anderson ’50 Jim and Pat Anderson Jeffrey Anderson ’84 and MaryEllen Palmquist Anderson ’84 Jutta F. Anderson Kenneth Anderson ’58 °M.C. Anderson ’54 °Ronald ’57 and Lorna (Haugland) Anderson ’60 Avis (Lovell) Andre ’57 °Karen Angell ’80 °Jack Anundsen °Jeffrey ’89 and Angela (Carlson) Arndt ’88 David and Candace Arp Karl ’51 and Sylvia Aschim Mel ’67 and Brooke Ashland Sharon (Zumdahl) ’70 and Stanley Asp Julie (Jensen) ’98 and Thomas Assel °Glenn ’62 and Karen (Swain) Austad ’62 °Michael ’65 and Karen (Wardell) Austad ’64 °Sally Swab Austin ’70 and Bradford Austin Russell ’63 and Sandra (Edgren) Ayers ’64 Eric Baack °Barbara (Kleene) ’72 and Daniel Babine °Ruth Ann Bachman ’75 and Thomas Gallagher Bill Bailey ’61 Shirley Baker

Daniel Baldwin and Anne Bulliung John Bale °John ’83 and Karla (Nelson) Balk ’83 °Roger ’71 and Peggy Bang °Steven ’74 and Paulette (Engel) Barnes ’74 °Robert ’87 and Connie (Huisinga) Barrett ’87 Nancy Barry Eugene and Aneila Barth Janet (Hellie) Barth ’50 Jeffrey ’74 and Sherrie Barth °Timothy Bartness ’75 °Ann (Birdsall) ’71 and Byron Beasley °Marion ’75 and Peggy (Hall) Beatty ’74 °Matthew ’92 and Kristine Beatty Andrea Beckendorf ’93 °Jay Becklin and Katherine JohnsonBecklin °Loren ’59 and Betty (Eide) Behm ’57 °Naomi (Flugstad) ’44 and Owen Bekkum †E.E. “Ray” ’59 and Shirley (Klingsheim) Bentdahl ’59 °Alvin Berg ’55 Alvin ’61 and Lois (Stole) Berg ’62 °Donald ’56 and Barbara Berg Dean ’74 and Nancy (Stoneman) Berkas ’74 Steven ’74 and Linda (Kennedy) Berry ’74 °Jeffrey ’89 and Marnie (Kleven) Bigler ’89 Mark Birchard ’86 and Kari Clark °Steven ’84 and Marsha Birchard °Dennis ’64 and Suzanne Birkestrand Carol Birkland ’67 and Thomas Woxland °Richard ’71 and Louann (Peterson) Bjorlo ’67 Susan (Maclay) ’64 and Paul Blackman °Donald ’51 and Wanda Blockhus Nancy (Larson) Bluemel ’62 Michael ’96 and Jennifer (Usgaard) Bockenstedt ’96 °Erik ’87 and Anne Boe °Warren ’60 and Maryellen (Amundson) Boe ’61 °William ’95 and Kirsten (Stumme) Bohmer ’94 °David Boileau ’76 and Shirley Kirschbaum °Ronald and Ann Bolinger Kimberly (Carlson) ’02 and Andrew Bonnet Larry Bonney ’85

Steven ’72 and Beverly (Ulstad) Borgstrom ’72 °Carol Borson ’61 °Jake ’61 and Shirley Bostrom Jennifer (Bickel) Bouska ’76 and Ben Lane °Quentin and Inez Boyken °John ’61 and Julie (Seegmiller) Braaten ’67 °John ’82 and Sheri Bradley David ’80 and Kathy (Haugland) Brandt ’82 Mildred Breiland Brian ’86 and Anne (Snyder) Brennan ’87 Hope Broman ’85 and Dave Mulcahy Ruth Broman ’79 Steven ’72 and Donnis Broman °Mara (Graven) ’91 and Paul Brooks °Renee (Anderson) ’72 and Charles Brown Alan ’55 and Sally Brudos Eric ’85 and Ginger (Felland) Brudos ’85 °John ’53 and M. Jean Bruemmer °Keith ’80 and Amy (Carlson) Bruening ’92 Paula Brugge ’83 and Charles Spetland Carson Bruns ’08 and Anna Herrig ’07 Adolph ’34 and Doris (Erickson) Buckneberg ’35 Anthony ’74 and Kristine Buechler Marilyn (Myrah) Bunge ’51 Wilfred ’53 and Ruth (Jensen) Bunge ’51 Mary Bunge Docken ’79 and Don Lucas °Don ’53 and Joan Bungum °David Bunt ’78 Sherry Burgdorf °Adam Burk ’06 Doug and Sue Burks °†Bartlett and Barbara Butler °Ruth Caldwell and Uwe Rudolf Lori Koch Cannestra ’82 and Paul Cannestra Jean (Flom) Carlson ’58 Joyce Carlson °Robert Carlson ’71 Michael ’85 and Susanne Carney Becky (Murray) ’75 and James Carpenter °Kevin ’87 and Stacie (Olson) Carpenter ’90 Brenda Case ’94 and Richard Vonder Embse °Bridget Casey M. Julia (Soukup) ’80 and Andrew Casner °Rocklon ’73 and Barb (Donaldson) Chapin ’73 Larry ’65 and Karen (Aaker) Chellevold ’65 °James and Nancy Chesser

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

40 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 40

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Walter ’68 and Aleta (Reckling) Chossek ’69 °Bernard ’73 and Betty Christ °Dennis ’63 and Ann (Henningsgaard) Christ ’66 Dean Christen ’57 and Ardis Fiskerbeck Christen ’59 Daniel ’68 and Pamela Christensen °Keith Christensen ’80 and Dawn DeinesChristensen ’82 °Rodney ’79 and Deborah Christensen °C. Gerald ’61 and Carol Christenson Birgitte (Povelsen) ’73 and John Christianson Anne (Marking) ’62 and Myrvin Christopherson °Jon ’84 and Janeen (Fowler) Christy ’93 °Heather Clefisch ’94 and Nate Zolik °Peter and Sandy Cochrane °David ’80 and Wendy (Hillesland) Coe ’80 Martin ’91 and Michele Cole Richard and JoAnn Cole Lori (Beckman) Conway ’83 °Craig Cornelius ’74 and Ann HaddenCornelius Naomi Craft William and Anne Craft Eric ’99 and Julia Cutler °Erno ’52 and Suzanne (Preus) Dahl ’53 °Roland ’48 and Marilyn (Trytten) Dain ’50 °R. Scott and Julie Daniels James ’72 and Jeanne (Tormoen) Daubendiek ’72 Donald ’68 and Joanne Davidson °Mark ’81 and Jill Davidson °Wendy (Jaycox) ’92 and Thor Davidson ’93 °Leilani Hovden De Muth ’61 David ’71 and Jenee (Nelson) Dettmann ’72 Jean Dickson ’89 °Rodney ’80 and Lisa Dir °Mark ’70 and Vicki (Mohlis) Donhowe ’70 °Michael Dorner ’86 °Edward Dosh ’70 °Thomas and Paula Dosland David ’82 and Wendy (Sersland) Dotseth ’82 °Gregory ’61 and Carol Dotseth Erik ’85 and Ellen (Paulson) Dovre ’86

Louise Dovre Bjorkman ’82 and John Bjorkman °Alice (Ranum) ’49 and Leonard Drake °Lois (Brandt) Drews ’49 °Ruth Drews ’76 and Dean Peckham Sue (Franzen) ’78 and Jack Drilling Samuel Drong ’04 and Rebecca Franklin ’05 °Douglas ’77 and Ann (Hill) Duin ’77 °Shannon (Miller) ’95 and DeLane Duval Randa Duvick ’78 and Dave Grosnick Duane and Linda Eaton Richard ’64 and Patricia (McCullough) Edwards ’63 °Jay ’82 and Gail (Werner) Egenes ’83 °Donald and Glenda Eggerling Leslie ’79 and Paula Ellis °Gary ’59 and Jannell Embretson °Henry Emmons ’81 and Jane Blockhus ’81 Charles Enge ’58 °Charles ’73 and Janice (Knutson) Engebretson ’74 °H.G. ’57 and Marcia (Borreson) Engebretson ’58 Edgar and Joyce Epperly Daryl ’61 and Audrey (Pederson) Erdman ’61 °Karla (Luzum) ’89 and Lindsay Erdman Karen (Kiland) ’61 and Daniel Erlander °Peggy and Bryan Ettestad °Joann (Halvorson) Evans ’52 Jodene Evans ’84 Ellen Ewald David ’79 and Rachel (Andersen) Faldet ’78 °Alan ’60 and Sally Fedge °Patrick ’00 and Katrin (Aarestad) Fergus ’00 °Gregory ’77 and Victoria Fields Kenton ’54 and Lois Finanger Mark ’77 and Lois (Dunleavy) Finanger ’77 Nancy Fincham ’85 °John ’69 and Janet Fischer Elizabeth Fiskerbeck Bruening ’58 °Bob ’66 and Lynne Fjelstul Scott ’83 and Ann Fjelstul °Timothy ’67 and Janet (Strube) Fleming ’67 °Rolf ’60 and Donna Flugstad James ’64 and Judith (Larson) Fogdall ’65 °Larry ’62 and Marilyn Fogdall Luther ’49 and Ilene (Knutson) Forde ’46

°Donna (Ellefson) ’57 and Fredric Fortney °Craig Fox ’83 Gene Frank ’69 °Ronald ’61 and Karen (Paulson) Fretheim ’63 °Terence ’56 and Faith (Luzum) Fretheim ’56 °Marion Fritz Marilyn Fritz Shardlow ’72 and John Shardlow °Wilmer ’48 and Margaret (Nelson) Fure ’48 Andrew Galuski ’95 Spencer ’44 and Patricia Gedestad Michael ’92 and Teresa George °James ’61 and Dorothy Gesme °Gary ’74 and Sandra Gilderhus °Callista (Bisek) ’88 and Newt Gingrich °Eric Goers ’93 and Kerri Doeden Goers ’93 J Bruce ’62 and Cosette (Cross) Goetsch ’63 Nancy Gossell ’74 °Steven ’76 and Julie (Huntting) Grandgeorge ’77 °Lloyd ’65 and Mary Beth (Sandstrom) Gravengaard ’65 Phyllis Gray ’73 Bette Greedy °Kristopher ’82 and Kathryn (Willi) Gregersen ’81 Larry and Zylpha Gregerson Maryln (Johnson) Grimm ’50 Ben and Padrin Grimstad °Joseph ’98 and Ann Grimstad °Richard ’50 and Eileen Grindeland °David ’85 and Janet Gross °Laura (Stordahl) ’03 and Tyler Guenzel Justin and Jeanne Gullekson Joan Gunther Niemiec ’64 and Richard Niemiec °Delores Gustafson °Barbara (Lee) ’52 and Eugene Haak C. Carlyle ’55 and Mary (Kittelsland) Haaland ’56 Ross ’95 and Nori (Greenlee) Hadley ’97 James ’72 and Susan (Hammond) Haemker ’74 °Suzanne (Knoll) ’65 and John Hales Dale ’81 and Teresa (Bell) Hallberg ’82 °Wayne ’62 and Barbara Halverson °Mark and Barbara Hanawalt Larry ’68 and Jane (Hoplin) Hansen ’68

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

41 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 41

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Bradley and Marion Hanson °Eugene ’59 and Naomi (Borreson) Hanson ’61 °Jean Hanson ’71 °Minnard ’38 and Carol Hanson Paul ’85 and Yumi Hanson °Rhys ’56 and Kathleen Hanson Richard Simon Hanson ’53 °Scott ’80 and Rhonda Hanson °Lori Happel-Jarratt ’89 and Al Jarratt °Debra (Lietz) ’87 and Andrew Hare °Harold and Beverly Harris °J. Bruce ’48 and Beverly Harstad °Brian and Julie Hart °Jon and Mary Hart °Chryss (Syers) ’76 and Mike Hartman °Lee ’84 and Linda (Rosholt) Hash ’85 °Corey ’94 and Carla (Paulsen) Haugen ’93 °Dean ’91 and Pamela (Brown) Haugen ’89 °Gerald ’62 and Sally Haugen °Gene ’63 and Suzanne Haugland °Irene (Schulz) ’53 and Chester Hausken °George ’97 and Nicole (Voss) Hawkinson ’98 Alan ’58 and Joanne (Hamberg) Heggen ’59 °John ’62 and Susan Helgeland °Thomas Hellie ’75 and Julie Olds David ’76 and Sue Henderson °Dayton ’79 and Amy Henderson Kristine (Hahn) ’85 and David Henderson °Joel ’76 and Debra Hendrickson °Steven ’73 and Virginia (Fixsen) Hendrickson ’72 Darrell Henning ’62 and Terry Sparkes °Sheldon ’52 and Renee (Aust) Hermanson ’54 Gene ’53 and Ruby (Totman) Hermeier ’53 Larry and Jane Herndon °Adolph ’43 and Avis Herseth Nancy (Hermeier) ’82 and Dale Hershfield Norma Hervey °Lloyd ’43 and Donna Herwig Michael ’81 and Rhonda Hicks °Lavern ’49 and Jean Hillesland °Paul Hink ’84 and Kim Gleason-Hink ’84 °James ’71 and Diane (Vlahovich) Hinrichs ’71 Steven ’79 and Jacki (Johnson) Hinrichs ’79 °Agnes (Grevstad) Hjelle ’60

°Ardith Hoff Barry ’83 and Lisa (Schulz-Fincke) Hoff ’83 °Fred Hoff ’51 Donald and Mavis Hoffman °Lois Hollerud °Pat Holman ’72 and Philip Wangberg ’70 Leonard and Anne Holmgren °Janice (Anderson) ’57 and Roger Horn °Marguerite (Agena) Horn ’64 Robert and Arlene Houlihan °Louise (Naeseth) Hubbard ’39 Christopher ’89 and Jennifer (Jenkins) Hubbs ’95 Melissa Hunter ’08 °Craig ’84 and Annick Ibsen Philip ’87 and Sarah (Henning) Iversen ’87 °Peter Jacobs and Carol Hatcher °Karl ’72 and Jerrine Jacobsen °Howard ’61 and Lois Jacobson °Jane Jakoubek Herman ’89 and Julie (Lyng) Jass ’90 °Lawrence and Mildred Jensen °Paul Jenson ’48 James ’70 and Kathleen Jespersen °Mark and Mary Johns Dennis and Carole Johnson Guy Johnson John ’83 and Lucina Johnson °Kent ’83 and Lee (Knoernschild) Johnson ’85 Kirk ’82 and Kerry (Kramer) Johnson ’83 °Orville and Kathleen Johnson °Scott Johnson ’80 and Naomi Nowland ’80 °Theodore ’50 and Barbara Johnson William Johnson Beth Jones Donald and Cynthia Jones °Lori Jones ’83 °Jonathan ’85 and Sandra (Neitzel) Joppa ’87 °David ’92 and Holly Jorde °Shirley (Stark) ’61 and Travis Jorde Brian Jorgensen ’80 and Richard Pietz °Karen Julesberg ’60 °Curtis and Edith Julson Michael ’98 and Heidi (Hingeveld) Jung ’00 David ’68 and Rayna Kaasa Haldis (Solem) Kaasa ’81 Blanche Kangas Edward and Elizabeth Kaschins

Ruth Kath °Scott ’87 and Ruth (Berschet) Kauls ’88 Martha (Monson) ’76 and Eric Keck °Kirsten (Hoffstedt) ’95 and Michael Keefe °Eric ’87 and Laura (Doorenbos) Kehrberg ’91 Jane Kemp °Michael ’89 and Julie Kinsel °Lawrence ’54 and Mary (Buchholz) Kipfer ’55 °Wayne ’61 and Alyce Kivell Christian ’05 and Kristen (Neve) Klein ’05 °Jenifer (Hanson) ’83 and Michael Klein Harvey and Georgianna Klevar °Helen (Legler) ’59 and Hans Kneubuhler °Harriet Knudson °Norlie Knudson ’64 °Irene (Holtze) Knutson ’57 °Kenneth ’62 and Judith (Hestenes) Knutson ’61 °Mark and Therese Knutson William ’70 and Carolyn (Peterson) Kobler ’70 Fred ’73 and Stephanie (Hanson) Koch ’73 Jessica (Wrobel) ’03 and Preston Koenig °Tamara (Christianson) ’88 and John Koller °Joanne (Gray) Kolstad ’53 °Walter ’49 and Helen Korsrud Christopher Kramer ’91 Douglas ’73 and Sandra Kratz Bethany (Bierman) ’95 and James Krepela °William ’54 and Suzanne Krohn Dennis and Holly Kruger °Michael ’87 and Amy (Larsen) Krull ’89 °Jon Kucera ’74 and Susan Graham °George Kuh ’68 °Richard Kundel Lila (Dahle) Kuntz ’54 Michael ’78 and Amy (Kiesler) Kust ’78 °Lynn Kvalness ’64 °Meredith Kvalness ’69 °Stephen ’71 and Mary (Xavier) LaBelle ’71 °†Elizabeth (Larson) Lackore ’56 Eric ’00 and Jennifer (Filteau) Lahaie ’99 Richard ’55 and Gloria (Smalley) Landborg ’55 °Charles ’70 and Christine (Lindgren) Lane ’70 °Walter ’52 and Adeline (Lovstuen) Langland ’50 Amy (Zalk) ’96 and Matthew Larson

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

42 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 42

4/17/12 3:18 PM

°April Ulring Larson ’72 and Judd Larson ’74 °Brian ’00 and Rachel (Forde) Larson ’99 °Marcy (Petersen) ’96 and Eric Larson °O. Dale ’61 and Patricia Larson Robert and Marilynn Larson Rob and Sandra Larson Reginald and Jerilyn Laursen Ping-Yee ’69 and Judy Law °Dale ’95 and Amanda (Neal) Lawrence ’95 °Rebecca (Knutson) ’79 and Lee Lawrence °Franklin ’61 and Jean Lee James and Catherine Lee °Jon ’62 and Stefani (Monson) Lee ’62 °Ronald ’61 and Jean Lee Ronald Lee ’62 and Marie Bender-Lee °Lois Leffler ’59 Dale ’87 and Lisa (Nguyen) Lensing ’86 Cary and Mary Lewis °Gerald Liedl Dennis ’71 and Barbara Linderbaum °Ellen (Hanson) Lindop ’46 °Susan Linner ’76 °Willard ’37 and Yvonne Linnevold °Justine (Holum) Lionberger ’50 Jerrold ’62 and Elizabeth Lokensgard David ’59 and Constance Lomen °William ’67 and Karen (Porter) Long ’67 Elaine (Wischhoff) Looft ’57 and Bill Schulz James ’85 and Martha (Anderson) Looft ’83 Joan (Fjeldstad) Losen ’53 Michael Loupee ’82 and Rachel NelsonLoupee °James ’79 and Janis (Miller) Lovell ’80 Jeanie and Paul Lovell Russell ’58 and Juanita (Zeman) Loven ’56 Warren Luckner ’68 and Mary Carr Luckner Joel ’88 and Laurence Ludvigsen Jon Lund °Ross Lund ’97 Margaret (Gulsvig) ’64 and Roger Lunde Gregg ’90 and Jennifer Luther Gretchen Luther °LaRoy ’60 and Lila Luther Thomas ’00 and Michelle (Feldmann) Lutz ’00 Ruth (Rotto) Lyngaas ’58 David and Deborah MacKenzie Debora Madsen ’73 and John Cznadel

°Christine Magnuson ’74 °Daniel ’83 and Ann (Wise) Mansfield ’79 °Lisa Manzey Adelmann ’87 and Steve Adelmann Thomas ’91 and Jill (Johnson) Marquardt ’91 °Robert and Margaret Marshall Michael ’81 and Julia Martin °Phil and Lynn Martinson Ronald ’57 and Marilyn (Lokensgard) Martinson ’57 °John and Rebecca Mason Henry Mathre ’53 °Paul ’81 and Miri (Peterson) Mattson ’81 °Stephen ’68 and Margeen (Bolson) Mau ’69 °Timothy ’84 and Mindy McCarthy °Jeff McCarty ’84 and Barbara ClarkeMcCarty °Gregory ’95 and La Donna (Hoornstra) McGohan ’95 James McKevitt James and Helen Meehan James ’88 and Sarah Meehan David ’86 and Jan Meirick William and Marguerite Meirick °Bruce ’52 and Rosella (Gjere) Melaas ’52 Sherwood Mellom ’49 Marvin ’54 and Patricia Mews °Brenda Severson Meyer ’83 and Brian Meyer Edward and Ilse Meyer °Todd ’93 and Nicole Michaels David ’64 and Pat Miller °Victoria (Dahly) ’73 and Randal Miller ’73 Suzanne (Roverud) ’96 and Corey Mineck Douglas ’80 and Sherrill (Pretz) Moard ’80 Kathryn Ulvilden Moen ’41 Martin Mohr and Mary Lou Hull Mohr °Jodi Bofenkamp Mongan ’96 and Matthew Mongan °Duane ’68 and Kirsten (Monson) Monick ’68 John and Ruth Monson Luther ’51 and IvaNell (Mundt) Monson ’51 °Thomas ’77 and Ann (Johnson) Monson ’78 °Katherine Moody ’01 Ann Moran Andrew ’94 and Beth (Keller) Mork ’96

°Larry ’62 and Jean Mosby °Michael ’74 and Janice (Gjesvold) Mostrom ’74 Carolyn Mottley Paula (Bedford) ’68 and Paul Moucka Jeffrey and Janet Mozena °Kimberly (Gass) ’92 and John Mueller Mark Muggli and Carol Gilbertson °Eric ’91 and Kimberly (Latzke) Muller ’93 °Dale ’64 and Helen Mundahl Thomas and Jean Murray °Michael Musgrave ’86 Sandra Myhro ’76 and Alan Pearlman °Roselle (Olson) Naeseth ’44 Robert ’65 and Ann (Aaker) Naslund ’66 °A.P. ’43 and Borghild (Teigland) Nassen ’43 James Neal ’01 and April Rowe Neal ’01 °Betty Rikansrud Nelson ’57 °Carolyn (Nuttall) ’62 and James Nelson °Connie (Jolstad) Nelson ’60 Cy ’76 and Ramona (Feller) Nelson ’75 Dean ’69 and Barbara Nelson Doug Nelson ’82 °Edgar ’46 and Shirley (Bird) Nelson ’47 °Gerald ’61 and Andrea (Cowles) Nelson ’63 °Glenn Nelson and Mary Jane Borelli Corinne and Harland Nelson Jayme (Rutledge) ’87 and Daniel Nelson Jeffrey Nelson and Susan Anderson-Nelson John ’58 and Arlene (Olsen) Nelson ’56 °Lloyd ’51 and LaVine Nelson °Millard and LaVonne Nelson Luther ’64 and Marilyn Nervig °Timothy ’82 and Jayne Ness °Kermit Neubauer °Peter ’97 and Jennifer (Larsen) Newburg ’99 °David ’77 and Mary Kay Nichols °Jared Nichols ’02 Robert ’64 and Ann Niedringhaus °Riddell Noble ’57 °Michael ’77 and Linda Norderhaug Deborah Norland ’75 and James Bovee Sylvia (Schey) Norland ’47 °Franklin Norman °Chip ’82 and Jari Norris Russell and Anna Norris °Andrew Nottleson ’90 and Lizabeth Diekema ’90

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

43 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 43

4/17/12 3:18 PM

°Jonathan Nowland ’83 and Christi Munson Nowland ’80 °Ronald ’54 and Frieda (Mindrum) Nowland ’54 Kenneth and Judith Nye Nancy Nygaard Johnson ’85 and James Johnson °Susan Oberman Smith ’83 and Douglas Smith Eileen O’Brien Denner ’84 and Keith Denner Francis ’59 and Miriam (Strum) Odden ’62 °Jackson Ode ’93 and Cara Kennedy-Ode ’94 °Timothy ’87 and Molly Oitzman °Marsha (Weckwerth) ’82 and Lee Olch °Kristen (Kollmorgen) ’88 and Lon Olejniczak Jeffrey Olinger ’85 and Heidi Miller-Olinger °Christine Olsen ’78 and Tom Roth Paul ’65 and Jeanne Olsen °Theodore Olsen ’59 °A. Richard ’59 and Martha (Smith) Olson ’59 °Carole Olson Dale ’74 and Anne (Kruse) Olson ’74 °David ’79 and Siobhan Olson °Donald ’48 and Dorie Olson °Eric ’85 and Virginie Olson °Gary ’61 and Rosaaen (Skifton) Olson ’61 °Helen (Stuepfert) ’69 and John Olson °K. Richard ’71 and Carol (Kershner) Olson ’72 °O. Rolf ’53 and Gertrude (Kolstad) Olson ’54 °Richard ’59 and Vicki Olson Timothy O’Neill ’74 and Cynthia Linder O’Neill ’76 James ’77 and Mary (Stoneman) Oppermann ’77 Kevin ’06 and Keely Oppermann °Glen ’61 and Shirley Orr Michael Osterholm ’75 and Barbara Colombo Michael Ostermeyer ’83 and Cynthia Zautcke ’85 Thelma Overholt °Dan ’89 and Theresa (Anderson) Owens ’89 °Jeffrey ’81 and Nancy Paulson John ’88 and Sherry (Schmidt) Paulson ’88

Joseph Paulus ’89 Allen ’69 and Karen (Anderson) Peckham ’69 David Pendergast ’02 °Richard ’70 and Peggy Perry °Dale and Judy Peter Roger Petersen and Susan SandholmPetersen Seth Petersen ’99 °Colleen (Voehl) Peterson ’58 °Gregory Peterson ’83 and Ann Sponberg Peterson Hamlet ’54 and Suzanne Peterson °Karen (Nilsestuen) Peterson ’65 Paul and Deaun Peterson Marit (Ness) ’91 and Frank Piacente Steven ’77 and Marcia (Hoff) Pitzenberger ’78 Connie Plaehn ’75 °Elizabeth Pleuss ’01 and David Bylsma °James ’69 and Katherine (Olson) Potter ’70 °Penelope (Smith) ’77 and David Pratt David ’43 and Ann Preus °Jonathan ’61 and Mary Preus ’63 °Mark ’81 and Mary Pribbenow °Paul Pribbenow ’78 and Abigail Crampton Pribbenow °Marit (Running) ’58 and M. Franklin Pudas °David ’83 and Karen Quinby °Brian ’64 and Gloria (Evans) Rainer ’65 °Judith (Miller) ’62 and David Ranheim Keith ’72 and Mary Rapp °Ann Rathe ’87 °Wayne Reames ’97 °Douglas Reasa ’61 Vaho Rebassoo and Maura Oneill °Richard and Jill Reed Brett ’81 and Michele (Wylder) Reese ’81 Robert and Donna Reifschneider Nancy (Moe) Reinsmoen ’69 °Scot Reisinger ’96 and Heather Schacht Reisinger ’96 °Curtis Reiso ’54 Phillip and Ruth Reitan Brian ’98 and April (Johnson) Remfrey ’98 Sharon (Rose) ’71 and James Rendack °Mary Lynn (Swenson) ’79 and David Rettig

°Matthew ’04 and Rebecca (Bellin) Richardson ’04 Richard ’69 and Donna Rima David ’81 and Annette Ringdahl °Harry and Sharon Ritter Lucile Roberts ’42 °Janet Robertson ’60 William Robinson °Kletus ’51 and Lois Rood Waldron ’58 and Arlene (Riegel) Rosheim ’59 °Norm ’50 and Darlene Rosholt David ’59 and Joy Roslien °Myrna Ross Linus Rothmeyer Curtis ’60 and Ann (Knutson) Rotto ’61 Hans ’90 and Mary (Mathews) Rotto ’90 Theodore ’56 and Kathryn (Hermanson) Rotto ’57 Alma Rotto-Morgan ’61 °Richard ’61 and Julaine Rud °Marion (Bjerke) Rude ’52 °Peter Rudolf ’84 and Sherry Holtz Steven Runde ’97 °Brent ’00 and Lori (Stork) Ryan ’99 Kevin ’72 and Leslie (Smith) Sand ’74 Robert ’68 and Dell Ann (Kappus) Sathe ’68 °Britt ’78 and Denise Sather Harlan ’82 and Sonja Satrom Joyce (Reynolds) ’65 and Al Saul °Robert ’53 and Avis (Nelson) Savre ’53 °Russell Savre ’68 °Scot and Debra Schaeffer Kristen Schlauderaff ’78 and Larry Lindmark °Corey ’98 and Tonya (Schwers) Schmidt ’97 °Darrell Schmidt ’80 and Julie Mall °Jeffrey Schmidt ’87 and Berit Nelson Schmidt °Brad Schmugge ’93 °Mark ’90 and Susan (Riley) Schneider ’90 Peter and Diane Scholl Gregory and Nancy Schouweiler °Paul ’43 and Camille Schroeder Paul ’98 and Jody (Daubendiek) Schulte ’98 °Fred ’54 and Lisa Schultz °Jill (Monis) ’97 and Thomas Schwanz °David ’77 and Dawn (Hovden) Schweizer ’78

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

44 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 44

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Helen Schweizer °Scott Searl ’94 Robert Seaver ’57 Mark ’74 and Bonnie (Richardson) Seem ’73 °David ’94 and Jill (Lindeman) Seidelmann ’95 °Thomas ’73 and Julie (Hedlund) Seidelmann ’73 Bruce ’82 and Kari (Nottleson) Shatzer ’82 °Stephen ’71 and Katie (Kvale) Sheppard ’71 Margaret Sherve ’73 Anjela Shutts ’93 and Peter Kitundu °Karen Smith ’72 °Stephen ’71 and Jeri (Jenson) Smith ’71 Steven ’95 and Maria (Bringer) Smith ’95 Carol Solheim ’72 and Peter Santiago °Allan ’60 and LaVonne (Leng) Solomonson ’61 °Allen ’63 and Judith Soltow Tex Sordahl ’73 Dorothy Bergeson Sorenson °Steve ’72 and Susan Sorenson °Terry ’62 and Suzanne Sorom °C. Robert ’66 and Sondra Sperati °Richard Staff ’69 °John Stalbaum ’67 °Gwen Hamilton Starr ’81 and Steven Starr Lynn ’61 and Mary (Frost) Steen ’62 °Keith ’70 and Connie (Dummermuth) Steere ’68 °Richard ’74 and Mary (Edwards) Steinberg ’76 °Jon and Rebecca Stellmacher David ’70 and Esther Stenson °Carter ’83 and Michele (Mertens) Stevens ’83 Wendy (Tessman) ’69 and James Stevens Carol (Barth) ’75 and Timothy Stoddard John ’83 and Jane Stoneman °Eric ’85 and Diane (Reque) Storvick ’85 °Olin ’49 and Ruth (Struxness) Storvick ’47 °Paul ’66 and Linda (Knutson) Strand ’66 Jonathan ’74 and Jeanette (Bialas) Strandjord ’74 °Clarie (Renslo) Streng Broste ’55 and Dennis Broste °Karen Strom ’57 Ryan Stroschein ’99

°Robert ’64 and Susan Strube Karen (Mathews) ’65 and Mark Stuart Bruce ’68 and Marcia Lynn (Wagner) Sundet ’69 °Gene ’61 and Carole Svebakken James ’72 and Sue (Capretz) Symonds ’72 °Adam Syverson ’02 °Henry ’67 and Marlene Syverson Diane and James Tacke Eugene ’66 and Miriam (Nelson) Takle ’66 Richard ’72 and Jane Theiler Michel and Alessandra Thelia °Myron ’80 and Diane Thiese Chad ’92 and Melissa (Bonikowske) Thomley ’93 Joe and Rhonda Thompson °James ’86 and Kathy (Winter) Thomsen ’85 Jack Thomson Ronald ’73 and Chris Throndsen °Charles ’72 and Noreen Thurston °Matthew ’01 and Jaime (Rowe) Titus ’00 °John and Karen Tjostem Paul ’69 and Elizabeth (Tenold) Tokheim ’70 °Robert ’58 and Janet (Purmort) Tollund ’73 Jay Tompkins ’81 °O.J. and Patricia Tomson °Paul ’73 and Rebecca (Larson) Torgerson ’73 Gregory ’67 and Mary (Carr) Totel ’66 °Daniel ’97 and Stephanie Tresemer Terry Trimpe ’70 °Geoffrey ’94 and Dalia Trullinger George ’51 and Phyllis (Rossing) Trytten ’52 °Anita (Buss) ’61 and John Turck Jerry ’57 and Barbara Twedt Onyebuchi and Chinyere Ukabiala Harold ’69 and Lynette (Ellingson) Usgaard ’70 Richard Uthe and David DeCou °Sara Uthe Holm ’99 and Eric Holm John Vaaler ’94 and Angela Strickert Vaaler ’95 °Thomas ’62 and Juanita Vaaler °Lee ’78 and Maggie Valenta °Karin Van Dyke Gregory and Ann Van Heest °Lance ’79 and Shari Vander Linden

°E.C. Vanderwalker ’41 Judith (Johnson) ’88 and Paul Vijums Joann (Hove) Voltmer ’73 °Norris Waalen ’72 and Hollis Krug Waalen Marilyn Wahlberg °Howard Walker °George ’63 and Joyce (Behrens) Wallman ’65 °Solveig (Johnson) Walstrom ’70 Anne (Potter) ’92 and Mike Walters Ruth Ward Schraeder ’88 and Neil Schraeder °Mark Wardell ’68 °Andrea (Borneman) ’02 and Nicholas Weber Kevin and Kenda Wedemeier Jonathan Wee ’88 and Leah Vriesman ’88 °Donna (Wangsness) ’64 and James Weigle Annie Weilgart ’75 Caroline (Hjerleid) ’62 and James Weis Mitchell West ’77 °Lucas ’07 and Sarah (Nesheim) Westby ’07 Jeffrey ’79 and Barb Wettach °Jody Wettach ’86 Joy (Andresen) ’65 and John Wetzel Marjorie (Running) ’66 and George Wharton °Carolyn (Forde) White ’61 J. Troy ’92 and Michelle (Gipp) Whitehill ’91 °James ’70 and Irene Whittington Kyle ’92 and Kristine (Hukey) Wiese ’91 Robert Wigley °Genevieve (Fosdahl) Wilberg ’56 Mary Jo (Iverson) ’55 and Tom Wilke °Andrea (Wehrmacher) ’96 and Jeffrey Wilkerson Jacqueline Wilkie Charleen Wilkins °Janet (Geerdes) ’61 and Arlyn Will William ’01 and Kirsten (Aschim) Williamson ’01 °Debra Wilson ’71 and Peggy Brenden ’76 Robert Wilson ’75 Rolland ’60 and Sharon (Jacobson) Wilson ’60 °Christina (Vignec) Winch ’63 °Warren Wind ’58 °Margaret (Barth) Wold ’41 Amy Wrightsman ’01

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

45 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 45

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Aaron Wrobleski ’99 and Kristin KahleWrobleski ’99 Bruce ’72 and Cynthia (Ellis) Wulfsberg ’72 Richard ’50 and Joanne Ylvisaker °James ’81 and Jodi (Palma) Young ’81 °Jamison Young ’99 Robert ’61 and Carol (Freshwater) Zaiser ’58 °Robert ’67 and Jeanne (Engler) Zaske ’67 Joel ’79 and Jodi Zellmer °†J. Peter ’72 and Judy (Henriksen) Zetterberg ’72 James Ziemer °Nichelle Zimmer ’90 ESTATE GIFTS Estate of Maynard Aaker ’39 Estate of Ruth Benson Estate of Craig Hanson ’72 Estate of Frances Homme Land Estate of Kenneth Johnson °Estate of Myron Larsen ’50 °Estate of Lloyd and Susie Loven Estate of Gordon Luce ’49 Estate of Grace Olson Estate of Bernice Rise Estate of Maynord Steensgard ’52 CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS A&J Petersburg Agency Aase Haugen Homes, Inc. Abbott Laboratories Fund °Ajax Foundation °American Century Investments American College Health Foundation Arts Midwest °Bank of America Bank of the West Bear Creek Archeology, Inc. Bruening Rock Products, Inc. Capital Group Companies, Inc. °Cargill Inc. Casper Plumbing & Heating Covidien Employee Matching Gift Program Culver’s of Decorah Deco Products Company Decorah Veterinary Clinic °Deloitte & Touche Foundation Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

Eaton Corporation Ecolab Inc. Erdman Engineering P.C. °Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Arlin C. Falck Foundation °First Lutheran Church Fjelstul Funeral Home °The General Electric Foundation °General Mills Foundation Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, Inc. Hacker Nelson & Company P.C. °The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Inc. Harman Realty Hawkeye Stages Inc. Hormel Foods Corporation Hotel Winneshiek Ingersoll Rand John Deere Foundation °Johnson & Johnson °S.C. Johnson Wax Fund Inc. °Kimberly Clark Foundation Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation Inc. °KPMG Luce-Bergeson Endowment Fund Lutheran Community Foundation Madison Community Foundation The Medtronic Foundation °Meredith Corporation °MetLife Foundation °Microsoft Corporation Midwest Group Benefits °Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Foundation Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Olson Explosives, Inc. °Owens-Illinois Inc. The Presser Foundation °Principal Financial Group Foundation Inc. °Qualcomm °Rockwell International Corporation Trust Saint Paul Brotherhood Spahn & Rose Lumber Company Charitable Foundation Storey Kenworthy Company T-Bock’s Sports Bar & Grill °Thomson West Wicks Construction Inc. Winds of Peace Foundation Winneshiek County Community Foundation

President’s Visionaries Recognizes those who have established planned gifts of $2,000 or more from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011. Anonymous Elizabeth Andress ’81 and Steve Solbrack Margaret Baird ’87 Judith (Mills) Brammer ’68 David ’63 and Brenda (Landsgard) Carlson ’73 James Field ’54 Carol (Nelson) ’69 and Steven Gibson Robert and †Nancy Granrud C. Carlyle ’55 and Mary (Kittelsland) Haaland ’56 Larry and Jane Herndon Tracy Johnson ’92 Karen Julesberg ’60 George Kuh ’68 Jon ’62 and Stefani (Monson) Lee ’62 William ’56 and Maxine Losen David ’64 and Pat Miller Robert ’64 and Ann Niedringhaus George ’67 and Carole (Rust) Orness ’69 Curtis ’60 and Ann (Knutson) Rotto ’61 Dolores Sande ’65 Sandra (Wainwright) ’63 and Joseph Sayko Sara (Gunther) Sersland ’70 C.A. and Mimi Thompson Elisabeth Zant ’06 ° Leadership Trust member (gifts totaling $1,000 or more to the Luther College Annual Fund in the past calendar year, January 1, 2011–December 31, 2011) † deceased 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 1-800-2 ALUMNI or e-mail giving@ luther.edu so we may correct our records.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

46 Presidents Council New Spring 2012.indd 46

4/17/12 3:18 PM

Alumni News

Pictured last November at a college event observing of Veterans Day are (front, left to right) David Heine ’91, Jenn (Shimak) DeLaRosa ’05, Vern Hillesland ’49, Curt Reiso ’54 (Luther coordinator of music activities emeritus), Norbert Nelson ’50, Audrey (Hexom) Jordahl ’48, Willard Linnevold ’37, Marjorie Hitesman (former Luther dining services staff); (back) William Hollander ’85, Rick DeLaRosa, C. Owen Christianson, Jr. ’70, Guy Nave (Luther associate professor of religion), Warren Burstrom ’48, Kermit Hendrickson ’48, Roger Amundson ’53, Steve Hildebrand ’73, Roy Prigge ’67 (Luther director of human resources), Harlan Satrom ’82, Robert Rosholt ’51, Tom Murray (Luther senior development officer), Eli Williamson ’02, Henry Mathre ’53, and Norman Rosholt ’50.

Alumni armed forces veterans hear update of Leave No Veteran Behind program Several decades separate Jenn (Shimak) DeLaRosa ’05 and Willard Linnevold ’37. Yet the two alumni share a bond that transcends age and class year—both served their country in the armed forces, Linnevold during World War II and DeLaRosa more recently in Iraq. Linnevold and DeLaRosa were among more than 40 Luther alumni and guests who joined President Richard Torgerson and Judy Torgerson on campus last November for a reunion in observance of Veterans Day 2011.

Among the veterans in attendance was Eli Williamson ’02, cofounder (with Roy Brown ’02) of Leave No Veteran Behind (LNVB)—a nonprofit organization that works to relieve the educational debt of those who have served in the U.S. military. Reunion attendees gathered in Peace Dining Room to hear updates on LNVB, the recently established Luther College Alumni Veterans Association Scholarship, and a proposed veterans recognition and information center for alumni visiting campus. To learn more about the scholarship and the recognition and information center, contact Tom Murray, Luther senior development officer, at murrayto@ luther.edu or (800) 225-8664.

Discover Portugal and Spain: Forsgren ’82 to lead Camino de Santiago tour

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

Join Luisa and Peter Forsgren ’82 to discover the culture and beauty of Portugal and Spain on the “Luther College Camino de Santiago Adventure” July 6–18, 2012. One of the most important Christian pilgrimages in medieval times, El Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James) is the route to Spain’s Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where legend has it the remains of Saint James the Apostle are buried. Tour participants will arrive in the Portugese capital of Lisbon July 7 and spend two nights in Carcavelos and two nights

A L U M N I

in Braga before embarking on the six-day walking pilgrimage July 11 in Tui, Portugal. (The pilgrimage involves walking approximately 6–13 miles per day and ends at Cape Finisterre, Spain, July 16.) The Forsgrens work at the American International School of Vienna, where Luisa teaches Spanish and Peter teaches physical education and health. They have previously led experiential adventures in Nepal, France, Spain, South Korea, Malaysia, Austria, Morocco, and the North American Rockies. For information, contact Sherry Alcock ’82, executive director of alumni relations, Luther College, Office of Alumni Relations, Decorah, IA 52101; phone (800) 225-8664; e-mail alcock@luther.edu; or visit www.luther.edu/alumni/events/ alumni_tours/camino.

Luisa and Peter Forsgren ’82 will lead the “Luther College Camino de Santiago Adventure” July 6–18, 2012.

47 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 47

4/17/12 5:02 PM

Alumni News Bentley family to host Lutherlag Serina (Norvold) Bentley ’94, husband George, and children Nels, Carsten, Thea, and Bjorn, will host the 25th gathering of Lutherlag, July 22−27. The family first attended Lutherlag in 2007, convinced there was something for everyone. Bentley says: “Whether it’s an early-morning walk or bike ride, or a back massage under the trees in Phelp’s Park, your body can be pushed and nourished as you see fit, and our children have been enthralled by close-up encounters with raptors and challenged on a ropes course.” At Lutherlag, alumni and friends of all ages can take classes that explore interests that may not even have been on their “radar” in college. Families can spend meaningful time together.

Among the most rewarding experiences, Bentley says, are the relationships her family has formed: “Reconnecting with classmates, Lutherlag friends, and professors has been a highlight. Conversations over coffee at breakfast or late-night chats in the dorm cluster are priceless.” She says her daughter, Thea, summed it up best at age four after an evening of dancing and fellowship at Seed Savers Exchange, north of Luther: “It was

The Bentleys, Thea, 8; George; Carsten, 10; Bjorn, 5; Nels, 11; and Serina, live in Hudson, Wis. a thousand funs!’’ For information, visit the Lutherlag site at alumni.luther. edu or contact Kirk Johnson ’82,

Alumni Office, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1043; 1-(800)-2 ALUMNI; johnsonk@luther.edu.

Alumni turn out for Refsal talk at ASI Luther alumni and students turned out in force to hear Harley Refsal, Luther professor emeritus of Scandinavian folk art and Whittling Little Folk author, present “Following the Wood Chip Trail, from Nordic Forest to North America” Jan. 20 at the American Swedish Institute (ASI) in Minneapolis. Refsal, pictured in the center of the front row, included a historical overview of figure carving in Scandinavia in his presentation, which kicked off ASI’s three-month “Wit in Wood: Nordic Figure Carving” exhibit. The exhibit featured more than 75 of Refsal’s carved horses, all part of the collaborative art project “Dalapalooza.”

L U T H E R

Musicians perform with All-Star Band Luther alumni who performed with the Midwest All-Star Band on March 10 in Blue Earth, Minn.: (Left to right) Rich Nicklay ’78 (clarinet), Linda (Buyarski) Bakken ’81 (horn), Luther Coordinator for Music Organizations and Marketing Eric (Hopkins) Ellingsen ’99 (baritone sax), Michelle Roche ’00 (percussion), Andrew Ellingsen ’03 (clarinet), and Dick Miller ’69 (trombone), not pictured.

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

48 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 48

4/17/12 5:02 PM

Alumni News CLASS NOTES

1948

SHERRY (BRAUN) ALCOCK ’82

AUDREY (HEXOM) JORDAHL of Ankeny, Iowa, is listed in the Marquis “Who’s Who in America” 2012 edition.

1951 ROBERT BOYD served as grand marshal for Nebraska’s Official Veteran’s Day Celebration in Bellevue, Neb., and was the featured speaker at the celebration’s kick-off breakfast.

1954 PAUL OFSTEDAL retired after 11 years as president of China Services Ventures in St. Paul, Minn.

1956 ODELL BJERKNESS of Edina, Minn., along with WAYNE OSTLIE ’83 and Wayne’s brother, Paul, published the book Montevideo, 1860-1930: Through Their Eyes and Words.

1957

This quartet of Concert Band alumni—(left to right) Joyce (Everson) Lee ’56, Bob Lee ’50, Donna (Kumm) Green ’56, and Clarie (Renslo) Streng Broste ’55—gathered Feb. 29, 2012, in Gruene, Texas. tra’s Young People Symphony Concert Association in Minneapolis.

1966

LOUIS ROTANDO is professor and holder of the Joseph and Sophia Abeles Endowed Chair in Mathematics at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, N.Y. He has been the department chair for more than 30 years. He was recently named Distinguished Service Professor by the SUNY system for his extraordinary service to his school, students, and community.

HAROLD DAHLSTRAND is teaching full time as executive in residence in the business department at Elmhurst (Ill.) College.

GARY THOMPSON is retired and volunteers at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, Minn., in their job transition program and visitation ministry program. He also volunteers at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee, and is a driver for four area Meals on Wheels programs.

MARK HANSON, executive director of the Heartland Coalition, delivered opening commentary for the “Forging a Sustainable Future” conference hosted by UnitedGREEN March 3–4, 2012, at San Diego State University.

1963

MARY (JOHNSON) JORGENSEN is a life coach at Rising Sun Life Coaching in Decorah.

ONALEE (CRISSINGER) FUCHS is a self-employed music teacher in Santa Clara, Calif.

Gene Takle ’66, professor of atmospheric science and agricultural meteorology at Iowa State University, spoke on climate change and its impact on Iowa at the third installment of the Des Moines Area Luncheon and Speaker Series, held Feb. 10 at the Windsor Heights Community Center. Launched last September, the series has also featured talks by President Richard Torgerson and Dale Nimrod, professor emeritus of chemistry.

1967 ANITA (LARSON) MEYER retired as administrative manager of the Las Vegas (Nev.) Philharmonic. ROY PRIGGE will retire from his position as director of human resources at Luther at the end of May.

JERRY TWEDT of Orlando, Fla., has published Land of Promise, Land of Tears. The novel examines the joys, difficulties, trials, and tragedies of a Scandinavian immigrant family living on the Iowa prairie in 1869.

1962 JUDITH (MILLER) RANHEIM is president of the Minnesota Orches-

ALLEN SOLTOW retired as vice president of research at the University of Tulsa (Okla.), where he has been a faculty member since 1969.

Luther couples Lila and Grant Trask ’67 (left) and Jackie and Art Johnson ’67 visited at the Trask bed and breakfast in Petersburg, Alaska, last June. L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

49 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 49

4/17/12 5:02 PM

Alumni News 1972

LYNN (ANDERSON) SCHLIES is an independent ACT/SAT test preparation tutor in Kaukauna, Wis.

PAUL AASEN is a corn research associate at Dow AgroSciences, LLC, in Clinton, Wis.

1968

Rufus Glasper ’74—chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges (MCC)—has been appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council. Composed of prominent university presidents and academic leaders, the newly established council is charged with advising Janet Napolitano, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and senior department leadership on key issues related to student and recent graduate recruitment, international students, academic research, campus and community resiliency, security and preparedness, and faculty exchanges. Glasper attended the group’s inaugural meeting March 20 in Washington, D.C. With ten campuses in Arizona, MCC is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. Glasper has served as MCC chancellor since 2003. He previously served with Napolitano, then Arizona governor, as co-chair of her P–20 (prekindergarten through graduate school) Council and is currently a member of the Commission on Higher Education Attainment.

DIANE MAURER is member services coordinator at the Norwegian American Genealogical Center in Madison, Wis.

NOAH WILLMAN FOR MADISON MAGAZINE

Glasper ’74 joins council advising Homeland Security

PHILIP HOLTAN was awarded Luther Seminary’s 2012 Faithfulness in Ministry Cross Award recognizing his 35 years of innovative and creative ministry. He is pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, Minn.

BECKY BELL-GREENSTREET of Coquille, Ore., is author of a biography about her father, Iowa filmmaker Al Bell, titled Al Bell Remembered.

BONNIE (FJELSTAD) WELLS is a self-employed martial arts instructor in Ankeny, Iowa.

BRENDA (TORGESON) NELSON was featured in the Madison Magazine article “People of the Year: 35 Madisonians Who Made 2011 Better.” Brenda was cited for her work as executive director of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center in Madison, Wis., providing assistance to children who are victims of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or witnesses to violent crimes. Now a family advocate with Safe Harbor, she served the organization as executive director for 10 years before stepping down from that position last fall.

1973

Decorah-based artist CARL HOMSTAD spoke at the “Forging a Sustainable Future” conference hosted by UnitedGREEN March 3–4, 2012, at San Diego State University.

1975 BECKY (MURRAY) CARPENTER of Plymouth, Minn., is a pediatric radiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. RON POPENHAGEN of Camarillo, Calif., is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California School of Theatre and Cal State University Channel Islands. ALLAN ZARLING is a financial analyst at Graphic Packaging, International, in Portland, Ore.

1976 ALAN FISH was appointed vice president for real estate and campus services at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

1969

CASSIE (BENTSON) HANSEN is a councilwoman in Fountain Hills,

DOUGLAS CARDEN is retired in Duck Creek Village, Utah.

1971

AL SERSLAND retired after 10 years as principal at Circle High School in Towanda, Kan. He received the “Thomas E. Frederick Award of Excellence” for contributions to his profession from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association at the 42nd Annual National Athletic Directors Conference banquet in Indianapolis in December 2011. ROSS SUTTER received the 2011 Sally Ordway Irvine Award for education. The Sally Awards, given by the Ordway in St. Paul, Minn., honor achievement in the visual, performing and literary arts.

CHARLES FINDLEY is a broker at RE/Max Ideal Brokers, Inc. in Grants Pass, Ore. He also tutors GED prep, English, and math parttime at Rogue Community College. LOU MATZ of Puyallup, Wash., is a site manager for a defense contractor on an Air Force training site running flight simulators for the C-17 heavylift transport.

GREG WYMORE works in outside sales at Bert Gurney and Associates, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

1977

DAVID OTT teaches kindergarten and coaches boys and girls high school basketball and volleyball at the Rabat American School in Rabat, Morocco.

L U T H E R

Ariz. She organized a “Red Friday” on Veteran’s Day, 11-11-11, an outdoor service where people wore red shirts and the town’s fountain in Fountain Lake, which spews water to a height of 562 feet, was colored red in remembrance of those who have served their country.

Joyce (Krueger) Fuerst ’74 of Angerberg, Austria, skied in Tirol, the heart of the Alps, in February.

A L U M N I

JULIE (LARSON) BINDEL is parish secretary at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Grimes, Iowa.

M A G A Z I N E

50 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 50

4/17/12 5:02 PM

Alumni News GREGORY FRIEDRICH is interim pastor at Luther Memorial Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

GARY LOGING is an accountant for the County of Milwaukee in Milwaukee.

STEVEN JOHNSON is operations manager at Merchant Support System in Burlingame, Calif.

BECKY WHITE of Iowa City, Iowa, is a physician assistant with Mercy Care.

1978 MARK SCHULTZ is president of Schultz Brothers Co. in Lake Zurich, Ill.

Mikaela Belland ’12

Luther alumni (left to right) Glenn Monson ’78 (principal), Benjamin Yates ’08 (second), and Laverne Walheim ’58 (bass) make up the Austin (Minn.) Symphony Orchestra trombone section, pictured after the orchestra’s October concert.

Osterholm ’75 speaks about restoration of an Iowa trout stream Internationally known epidemiologist Mike Osterholm ’75—director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota—presented “A Perspective on the Future of Coldwater Stream Restoration in the Driftless Area” Feb. 23 in Valders Hall of Science. The presentation focused on extensive restoration work Osterholm has done on Brook Creek, a coldwater trout stream on property he owns in Allamakee County, Iowa. “Very few people understand how unique this area is,” he told the audience, according to Chips. “This is the only area in the world in which the native tallgrass prairies and oak savannas are located in a karst region with many coldwater streams.” Osterholm’s Brook Creek restoration work was featured in the article “A Manmade Miracle of Nature,” published in November in the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette.

GAIL STEARNS is dean of the Wallace All Faiths Chapel, and associate professor of religious studies at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. She is author of the book Open Your Eyes: Towards Living More Deeply in the Present, through Wipf & Stock Publishing.

1980

RUTH BROMAN is a high school guidance counselor in the JeffersonScranton School in Jefferson, Iowa.

GREG ANDREWS is a partner at Jackson Lewis, LLP, in Chicago.

CHRISTOPHER CUDWORTH is a corporate marketing officer for Cooper Hong, Inc. in St. Charles, Ill. MARTHA MEADE is associate superintendent at Jefferson Union High School District in Daly City, Calif.

1979

BARBARA (VASKE) NORLAND is director of development of CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational and Emotional) of Dade County in Miami, Fla.

BRIAN ANDREAS of Santa Barbara, Calif., launched tumblecloud,

Anne (Peterson) ’78 and Charles Pietscher ’76 and their grandson, Karston, brought a bit of Luther with them during a visit to the Antarctic peninsula in February. L U T H E R

a new destination on the Web for collaborative digital storytelling.

DIANNE (ASFAHL) JUHL is a depth psychologist, financial wellbeing coach, speaker, and writer at The Feminine Face of Money in Seattle. She is also a doctoral candidate in the Depth Psychology Program at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif., researching the financial success of women and the transformative lifestyle changes that can foster financial wellbeing at home and in the workplace. JIM LaBELLE is patron services manager for the Bel Canto Chorus and marketing director for the

These Luther friends reunited in Minneapolis this winter. Pictured are (front, left to right) Kate Young, Jessica Miller Pierce, Barb (Perry) Lutz ’80; (back) Jo (Vasek) Koenig ’81, Elizabeth Koenig ’08, Jodi (Palma) Young ’81, Barb (Hodge) Miller ’80, and Chris (Lee) Levesque ’81.

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

51 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 51

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News Waukesha Choral Union, and serves on the advisory board for Milwaukee Choral Artists in Milwaukee.

son Mandela at the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

HELEN (HUBIN) MYERS is senior information security manager at Dow Chemical in Midland, Mich.

BRET LEWISON is associate general counsel at HNI Corp./Hearth & Home Technologies in Lakeville, Minn.

SUSIE PAINE is a land management officer for the Municipality of Anchorage (Alaska).

MARY (SNOW) PILLE is an executive adviser for the Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. FRED VENABLE, senior financial analyst at Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa, was elected to serve on the ASK Resource Center board of directors.

1981 MARK EVANS is rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln, Ill. MARTY HERTEL is a mental health technician at Spring Mountain Treatment Center in Las Vegas, Nev. SARAH (BAGAASON) KISE is a CPA at Lottsa Tax and Accounting Services, Inc. in Minneapolis. LAURA (NELSON) SCHROEDER earned a master’s degree in business administration from Augsburg College. She is supervisor of physical medicine and rehabilitation therapy services for Methodist Hospital and Charter House in Rochester, Minn.

Mary Sundet Jones ’81 (far left) with (left to right) her father, Wally Sundet ’58; her son, Sam Jones ’14; and Allen Hightower, Nordic Choir director, following the choir’s Jan. 27 concert in Des Moines, Iowa. Sam is the third generation of the Sundet family to sing in Nordic Choir; Mary was a three-year member and Wally a four-year member under Weston Noble ’43, choir director from 1948–2005. at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights, Wash.

KRISTI (SORTEBERG) REIERSON is vice president of human resources at the Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls, S.D.

DOUG KNUTSON is a professional photographer in Minneapolis. He was featured in the Jan. 8 issue of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune for his work photographing Nobel Peace Prize winners. He has photographed 21 laureates, including Elie Wiesel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the Dalai Lama. On March 3, Knutson photographed Frederik Willem de Klerk, the 75-year-old former South African president who oversaw the dismantling of apartheid with Nel-

JIM WHITESELL is assistant men’s basketball coach at St. Louis University. Coaching alongside Rick Majerus, he helped lead the Billikens to a 25–7 record this season and a berth in the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

1983 LISA (NEWCOMER) VAIL earned a doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) from the University of Kansas. She is vice president/chief nursing officer at Liberty (Mo.) Hospital. THOMAS WHITESELL is senior vice president at Lowe Enterprises Investors in Los Angeles.

1982 CHERYL “CHARLIE” BUSCH is project manager at CIGNA Healthcare and an affiliate faculty member at Regis University in Denver. PAUL McCARTHY is franchise development manager for Interstate Batteries in Dallas.

1985 SONJA (BARRINGER) CARLSON is a self-employed marketing and communications consultant specializing in health care and nonprofits in Minneapolis. ERIC RINGLIEN is a direct care professional at Trempealeau County Health Center in Whitehall, Wis. He is also a substitute teacher at Whitehall Memorial High School. MIKE SCHEETZ is vice president of group marketing at Ameritas Group in Lincoln, Neb. MARK SCHMIDT is a process development engineer at Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation in South Portland, Maine.

PETER DELIA is CEO of Ricston, Ltd. in Mosta, Malta. EARL MOLLERUD is an entrepreneur at Pikop Stone, LLC, in Minneapolis. KARLA (LUEDER) ORGANIST is the transportation and community planning department head at Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission in Decorah.

1984 ERIC FRYDENLUND is a site inspector and field researcher at Minnesota Abstract and Title in Albert Lea, Minn.

A trio of Luther alumni—(left to right) Kelsey Bruso ’81, Rodolfo Nieto ’04, and Brian Jorgensen ’80—sang in the world premiere of the Minnesota Opera’s Silent Night. The opera tells the story of the Christmas Eve 1914 truce among French, German, and Scottish troops fighting in World War I.

KURT GOMER is food and beverage area manager for the daily operations of 14 restaurants and lounges

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

52 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 52

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News 1986 NAN (UNDERDAHL) FROISLAND is vice president of support and services at Pivotstream in Bellevue, Wash. TIMOTHY PETER, Luther professor of music, was appointed director of choral activities and professor of music at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., effective August 2012. CHUCK SENA is president and owner of Navigator Enterprises, LLC, in Beaver Dam, Wis.

1987 MELISSA (GIBSON) ADKINS is a strategic purchaser at Danfoss in Loves Park, Ill. ANDREA BENSON is a learning specialist at Concord Elementary School in Edina, Minn. JENNIFER BRIGGS earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from St. Catherine University, and a master’s certificate in alternative dispute resolution from Hamline University School of Law. She is a client services specialist and program liaison at WomenVenture in St. Paul, Minn.

and 2011. Scott has provided wealth management services at Merrill Lynch in Minneapolis since 1987. RONN THOMAS is vice president of retail and hospitality at Cushman and Wakefield in Minneapolis, and first vice president of the Minnesota Shopping Center Association. JEAN DICKSON is president of the Iowa Association of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, Inc. She is an attorney and partner at Betty, Neuman and McMahon in Davenport, Iowa.

1988 MARIA ANDERSON-DOOLEY is associate professor at Palmer College Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. She has participated in many clinic trips abroad in the last 15 years, and recently returned from India.

KAREN HANSEN is associate professor of medicine with tenure at the University of Wisconsin−Madison.

PHIL HULL is director of international programs at the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Mo. DAN KAHL is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa. SARA KOCH-STANLEY is an operational risk manager at Wells Fargo in Urbandale, Iowa. MICHELLE (NISSEN) HJELLE received a Professional Photographers of Iowa 2012 Non-Masters Top Ten Award. She is owner of Portraits by Michelle in Algona, Iowa.

1989 AL BOETTGER is director of career services at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Iowa legislator Tod Bowman ’89 (right) of Maquoketa, Iowa, received the Associated General Contractors of Iowa (AGCI) “2011 Legislator of the Year” award from Kurt Rasmussen, AGCI representative, Jan. 12. Bowman was honored for his work on the Senate passage of HF 516, a bill relating to the construction of subdivision improvements.

1990 RICHARD BRUXVOORTCOLLIGAN of Strawberry Point, Iowa, is a producer, musician, and composer at The River’s Voice Music. JAMES HEATON was promoted to the rank of professor in the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. KARA (COGSWELL) NOAH is a booking coordinator at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis.

ROBYN (FREY) DAVID is a psychologist with the Mayo Clinic Health System at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

DAVID SORENSON is senior pastor at Decorah Lutheran Church.

BRUCE DIR is president, owner, and master brewer at Tighthead Brewing Co. in Mundelein, Ill. SCOTT KAULS was recently recognized on the Barron’s “America’s Top 1,000 Advisors: State-by-State” list, which was published in the February 2011 edition of Barron’s magazine. Kaul’s inclusion on this inaugural list is an industry honor and recognition of his accomplishments. It also follows his previous recognition by the Barron’s list on the annual rankings for 2009, 2010,

1991 Alumni (left to right) Lisa Negstad ’89, Naomi Mahler ’89, Kris Tostengard Michel ’82, and Dave Eliason ’76 gathered in Spicer, Minn., Jan. 30 for the annual meeting of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries (GLLM). Negstad, principal of Negstad Consulting, served as camp consultant; Mahler is interim CEO of GLLM; Michel is a GLLM board member and pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis; and Eliason is executive director of GLLM. L U T H E R

A L U M N I

MUKESH AGARWAL is global integrated systems leader at 3M in St. Paul, Minn. SUSAN (JOHNSTON) ESCHENBACH is a client service representative at Federated Mutual Insurance Co. in Owatonna, Minn.

M A G A Z I N E

53 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 53

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News KIA (RISKEDAHL) HARRIES is extension educator for youth development for the University of Minnesota Extension in Worthington, Minn. JOHN MOORE is a database consultant at JMC Consulting in Ames, Iowa. ANGELA (POLASHEK) O’CONNOR is a pharmaceutical investigations specialist at Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. in Fort Dodge, Iowa. MICHAEL SKAAR is a vocal music director at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley, Minn., where he also serves as head coach of the speech team and directs many of the district musicals. Skaar administers a set of performing arts camps and developed the local district eighth-grade choir fest. He is also co-chair of the ACDA-MN state 7-8 Boys Honor Choir. DARLA (NOLTING) STRIEGEL is upper elementary and junior high librarian for the Harvard (Ill.) Unified School District.

1992 AMY (BRUMM) BJORKLUND is a nuclear medicine technologist at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wis.

DIRK BUETTNER is team manager at Bank of America in Los Angeles.

Park Service honors Palmer ’91

JANNELLE (JOHNSON) BUISKER is a registered nurse for Rockford (Ill.) Health Systems.

A desk job seemed never in the cards for Bob Palmer ’91, chief ranger at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. An anthropology major at Luther, he spent his summers working as a National Park Service (NPS) ranger at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, Iowa. NPS assignments in Virginia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Montana, Philadelphia, and Iowa (once again at Effigy Mounds) followed, as did a four-year stint as a ranger in New Zealand. Last fall, some 25 years after his first NPS assignment, Palmer was named one of just eight recipients of the Harry Yount Award, presented to outstanding NPS employees whose “overall impact, record of accomplishments, and excellence in traditional ranger duties has created an appreciation for the park ranger profession.” “The great thing about being a park ranger,” he told the Waukon Standard in December 2011, “is the diversity of experiences that one can have while ensuring that the parks are protected and that visitors appreciate the incredibly rich and diverse resources of this country.” Palmer has rescued injured climbers, battled wildland fires, captured poachers, and educated thousands of individuals about some of the nation’s most precious resources. From 2005 to 2012, he spent off-seasons as a special agent with the U.S. Department of the Interior helping to enforce the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. “Bob has made genuine contributions of national value in a number of different programs,” says Jim Nepstad, Effigy Mounds superintendent, who spearheaded the award nomination. “I’m not aware of anyone else in the National Park Service quite like him.”

KARL BURKUM is a senior business analyst at Agile Frameworks in St. Paul, Minn. LAURA (SMITH) GENTRY is pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, Iowa. SPRING HALLAND is assistant professor of large animal internal medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. VAL HANSEN is operations supervisor at Waste Management and the Madison (Wis.) Recycling Center. DAVID JORDE is a family physician at the Essentia Health Lakewalk Clinic in Duluth, Minn. STACY KABELE is owner and attorney at Kabele Law Firm in Eden Prairie, Minn. KEVIN KIRKEBY is a software engineer at Preventice in Rochester, Minn. ANDREW MANGION of St. Julian’s, Malta, is executive chairman of EC—English Language Centres, an international English-language school chain with operations in

Malta, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Under Mangion’s guidance, the company has grown

ERIC MONSON’s vocal group, Metro, recently released a music video for a song on the group’s new album, No Borders. The album features ten Cantonese and Mandarin tunes and was released in Hong Kong in February under Sony Music. AMY (COLLIGAN) TANK is a registered nurse at the Good Samaritan Society in Stillwater, Minn.

from one school to 15 since 1998 and today serves more than 33,000 students from more than 100 countries. Mangion also serves on the board of the Association of Language Travel Organisations and is an active member of YPO.

“Laughing” Laura (Smith) Gentry ’92 (center) teamed with fellow Luther alumni Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan ’90 (left) and Mary (Johnson) Jorgensen ’66 to provide laughter for Yule Laugh, a Christmas album also featuring the Luther College Jazz Quartet—Ted Olsen ’14, Collin Meyer ’12, David Clair ’12, and Tom Bourcier (Luther instructor in music). Gentry produced and directed the album; Bruxvoort-Colligan served as sound engineer. Music for the album was recorded in the Noble Recital Hall by Bruce Larson, Luther technical media specialist. L U T H E R

JEFF MARKWARDT is a financial analyst at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

A L U M N I

1993 KRISTIN ALWIN BEGAY is a school psychologist for the State of Hawaii Department of Education in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. GWEN (STEINBACH) BADGER is a pharmacist at Walgreens in Waunakee, Wis.

M A G A Z I N E

54 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 54

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News

Maria Da Silva ’15

Representative in the 36th District. This district represents the northwest portion of Des Moines, Iowa. She is also a member of the Luther College Annual Fund Council and the Des Moines Area Luncheon and Speaker Series and volunteers for the Food Bank of Iowa.

Brothers Paul Rude ’95 (left) and Mat Rude ’98 flank a trio of Paul’s works Feb. 24 during an artists’ reception for their joint exhibit, “Ceramics and 2-D,” displayed Jan. 18–Feb. 29 in the Kristin Wigley-Fleming Gallery of the Center for the Arts. Paul Rude explores abstraction through painting and collage. Ceramic artist Mat Rude is assistant professor of art at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. KIMBERLY (RANDALL) and JOEL BOULANGER ’92 live in New Prague, Minn. Joel is director of client services at Kroll Ontrack. DIANE (LARSON) CARLSON is human resources manager at Universal Industries, LLC, in Tomahawk, Wis. JENNY (TANGEN) CLEMENTSON graduated from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and is an American Association of Drugless Practitioners certified holistic health coach. She has a health coaching business, Healthy Balance for Women, in Lake City, Minn. KALEN (LYNDAHL) CRANE of Parker, Colo., teaches in the Cherry Creek School District. ANDREA (BARTH) GOEHNER is director of financial analysis and planning at Lane Hospitality in Northbrook, Ill. JOHN HELBERG is a chief underwriter at Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. in St. Paul, Minn.

JEAN (CLEM) LATZKE is principal human resources administrator at Polar Semiconductors, Inc. in Bloomington, Minn. PAIGE (SEBBERT) LIVINGSTON of Pittstown, N.J., is an Execusearch contractor and manager in training administration at Sanofi-Aventis. BETH (JOHNSON) PETERSON is a registered nurse at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, Minn. MATT STEVENSON is an IT administrator at the Danish Society of Engineers in Copenhagen, Denmark.

JENNIFER GHELF earned a master’s degree in music education from Boston University. She is the sixthand seventh-grade choral director in the Waukee (Iowa) Community Schools. DAVID HEATON is head of history and social studies at InterAmerican Academy in Guayaquil, Ecuador. STEPHANIE ROLLIE RODRIGUEZ is assistant professor of communication at Texas A&MCorpus Christi. JENNIFER (STRUVE) STORER earned a master’s degree in nursing from Walden University. She is assistant professor of nursing at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in November 2011 in Minneapolis. KIRK OLSON of Longmont, Colo., is western regional sales manager for AMETEK Power Instruments. SCOT SCHWARK teaches middle school band at Lincoln K-8 Choice School in Rochester, Minn. JOHN STORLIE is a genetic genealogist, videographer, Web developer, and acting director at Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove, Minn. MITCHELL THOMPSON is a senior project manager at Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis.

Alumni fill ranks of Lutheran choir Luther has proved a fertile training ground for the Minneapolisbased National Lutheran Choir, which counts no fewer than 14 alumni among its ranks. Pictured with host Jennaya (Rogers) Robison ’96 (front, center) during the group’s February 2012 concert at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, Ariz., were (front, left to right) Lauren Fladland ’11, Sarah Bane ’07, Ellie Dundek ’07, Rachel (Dudderar) Schmidt ’06; (middle) Shaun Halland ’00, Kaye Mills ’04, Emily Lillegard ’07, Brittany Kallman Arneson ’06, Zach Busch ’09; (back) Ryan Luhrs ’04, Brian Lensch ’00, Soren Tryggestad ’05, Travis Karstad ’00, and Matt Olson ’10. Founded in 1986 and now directed by David Cherwien, the 65-member ensemble seeks to strengthen, renew, and preserve the Lutheran heritage of choral music. Mills says, “We’re continuing lifelong learning, volunteering, and commitment to the arts by being a part of the National Lutheran Choir.”

1994 MARIA DEWEY is director of nursing at Ultimate Nursing Services/ Universal Pediatric Services in West Des Moines, Iowa.

PAUL MELIN of Edina, Minn., is owner of Chantrey Solutions, Inc. LONNIE MORKEN is a physical education teacher and coach in the Mabel-Canton (Minn.) School District. In 18 years at the school, Morken has amassed an overall record of 459-96 with 14 conference championships and seven Section Coach of the Year honors. He was

1995

CARA KENNEDY-ODE is running in the Democratic primary for State

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

55 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 55

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News GREG WAGONER is a network and telecom administrator at Atterro Human Capital Group in Minneapolis.

1996

DEE BROWN was named NJCAA Women’s Cross Country Coach of Year and Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year. He is head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. MARTI (ZACHER) CROSBY of Excelsior, Minn., is director of communications and change management at Park Nicollet Health Services. CELINE FARRUGIA is a selfemployed director in Malta. DAVID HUSTRULID is a franchisee and owner of two Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Parks in Minnesota, one in Plymouth and a second in St. Paul. At Sky Zone, teens, parents,and kids jump, leap, and defy gravity on a patented alltrampoline walled playing court. LUTHER KOENIG is Northeast region sales director for Iowa Rotocast Plastics in Decorah.

from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and lives in the Seattle area.

JENNIFER HOSSLER is a clinical social worker at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

1997

KELLY (TIKKANEN) LANG is a dentist at Metro Dentalcare in Osseo, Minn. STACEY NALEAN-CARLSON is pastor at Glenwood Lutheran and Canoe Ridge Lutheran churches in rural Decorah.

CHRIS FISHER is a physical therapist at St. Luke’s Therapy Plus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. KRISTI (CARLSEN) and CHRIS McCONNELL ’98 live in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Kristi is an English as a second language (ESL) teacher at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit; Chris is a national and major accounts sales manager at The PatriotNews.

JENNIFER (RODELL) and MATT PRESTEGAARD ’96 live in Newport, Minn. Jennifer is a counselor in the Stillwater schools; Matt is an IT manager for the National Marrow Donor Program in Minneapolis.

1999

LEA (DONHOWE) LOVELACE is cofounder of ArtHaus, a nonprofit art center in Decorah. In January Winneshiek County Development Inc. recognized ArtHaus for its promotion of the fine arts. JILL (MONIS) SCHWANZ is a fiber technology leader at Boise Inc. in Wallula, Wash.

JENN (POTTER) WALKER earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas. She is an elementary music specialist with the Linn-Mar School District in Marion, Iowa, and served as guest conductor for the East Central Children’s Honor Choir, conducting more than 200 fifth- and sixth-grade students.

SARA (SCHEEVEL) HARWOOD is a stay-at-home mom in Hopkins, Minn. MARY NYAEMA is a research assistant at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. JESSICA RUNDE earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. She is a business technology manager at Target Corp. in Minneapolis.

1998

SARAH (KODET) GOEBEL is a special education teacher at Horizon Elementary School in Pewaukee, Wis.

KOJO AMOO-GOTTFRIED is the managing director of Cargill in Tema, Ghana. He assisted Cargill with the donation of $1 million worth of books, nearly 90,000 titles, to Ghana via Books for Africa.

L U T H E R

ANDREA (WORKMAN) and ADAM MATZ live in Lake Zurich, Ill. Andrea is a stay-at-home mom; Adam is a pharmacy business partner for Target Corp. in Chicago.

JEN HANSON is an English Language Arts (ELA) facilitator in the Denver Public Schools.

JOSH WHITE of Randolph, Vt., is co-director of the Community Health Initiative, which focuses on medical work in remote areas of Haiti. The Community Health Initiative agreed to operate World Wide Village’s 50-bed mobile hospital for six months when it was donated following the devastating 2010 earthquake. When the hospital closed last year, more than 30,000 individual patients had been served, and more than 700 surgeries and 250 deliveries had been performed.

ALEXIUS (HLEBECHUK) FISHER is vice president at U.S. Trust in Boston.

CHRISTINA SCHUCK earned a juris doctorate, magna cum laude,

LESLEY (DRESSEN) KOCHEL is assistant vice president of Sedgwick in Minneapolis.

ANGELA (HOUSE) and STEVEN GRITTON ’04 live in Maple Grove, Minn. Angela is director of worship and music at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth; Steve is a training coordinator with GE Fleet Services.

2000

SARAH MEYER-REYERSON was named one of the “20 Under 40” by Cedar Valley Business Online. She is the public library director in Waverly, Iowa.

(ESL) teacher in the Omaha (Neb.) Public Schools.

LUKAS HOFFLAND is an on-air personality, webmaster, and director of listener engagement at Maverick Media/I-94 Radio in Altoona, Wis. SARAH (REISINGER) JOHNSON is an English as a second language

A L U M N I

Alumni (left to right) Reuben Holland ’01, Erik Holland ’99, and Briana (Elfstrom) Holland ’00 proudly show off their “Go Luther, Beat Wartburg” sign Nov. 12 on the campus of Stanford University, site of that day’s ESPN Gameday broadcast. While Luther went on to lose a heartbreaker to its archrival, the Holland trio scored a small victory:“The sign was broadcast going into a commercial break, so the whole country got to see Wartburg punked on TV,” writes Erik Holland. “It was a fun experience, and we got awesome feedback from Luther alumni across the country.”

M A G A Z I N E

56 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 56

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News CHRIS WEBER is a seminarian in the Diocese of Davenport (Iowa). KRISTY (OKERLUND) WHALEN is program assistant in the St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools. RICHARD WINKELS is associate conductor of the United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own, in Washington, D.C.

2001

BECKY TIMM of Rochester, Minn., is pastor of Wykoff Immanuel Lutheran Church. In May 2011 she took an 18-day mission trip to Tanzania, where she worked in a medical dispensary in the village of Tuyla.

2002

GRANT APPLEHANS is resident chaplin at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis. PHIL ASSMUS is an associate at Hogan Lovells U.S., LLP, in Washington, D.C. ELIZABETH GRICE is assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

STEPHANIE (CITTA) KLEIN earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of Dayton (Ohio).

DEVON WHITEHEAD earned a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Akron (Ohio).

AMANDA (BOEHMKE) MADER is an administrative assistant at Ryan, Hodgins, and Associates CPAs in Eden Prairie, Minn.

AMANDA ARMSTRONG teaches social studies at Queen’s Grant High School in Charlotte, N.C.

SHERYL (GERBER) McCAMMON earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and a Certificate in Ethics and Leadership from St. Catherine University. She is senior clinical research associate at Medtronic in Minneapolis.

MATT BEATTY is director of international admissions at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

EVAN PETERSON is research director at Friends of Sherrod Brown in Washington, D.C.

NARREN BROWN is assistant director of analytic support and institutional research at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.

BRONSON POWER is a senior financial analyst with the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minn.

TOM KODET is a technical application specialist and technical lead at Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, Calif.

GINA (ALLEN) ERICKSON earned a doctorate in sociology with a graduate minor in population studies from the University of Minnesota.

JESSE REYERSON is a business analyst at the University of Wisconsin−Platteville.

ANNA (TENNESON) LEE is sales coordinator at the North Central Group in Madison, Wis.

JUSTIN JAEGER is an agent at New York Life Insurance Co. in Milwaukee.

HOA NGUYEN is owner of YumMi, LLC, in Minneapolis.

JANA (CHMELAR) KLAUKE is associate director of M.B.A. Career Services at the Tippie School of Management at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

2003

MATT CZECHOWICZ is a physician in the Mayo Clinic Health System in Menomonie, Wis. TIM FELTY is world language department chair and a Spanish instructor in the Minnetonka (Minn.) Public Schools. JOE GAVLE is an insurance agent at A&J Petersburg Agency in Decorah.

ILSE (HOPKINS) AKBAR is an associate in the Tax Planning and Business Organization Group at Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis.

JESSICA SHEVOCK-JOHNSON is an administrative and financial assistant at the First Congregational Church of Milton in Milton, Mass.

KARI (KOCH) GILBERTSON earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin−Milwaukee.

JENNIFER (McALLISTER) ROSE is associate pastor of Congregational care and education at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, Minn.

JACQUE RUEN is a physical therapist, lecturer, and research assistant at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. JOE SIEVERS is a faculty recruiter at DeVry University in Wood Dale, Ill. TIFFANY (ALLEN) WEST earned a master’s degree in nursing from Western Governors University. She is a registered nurse in the emergency department of Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa.

BENJAMIN SCHOENING earned a doctor of musical arts degree in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota and is co-author of the book Don’t Stop Thinking About the Music: The Politics of Musicians and Songs in Presidential Campaigns, published by Lexington Books. He is assistant professor of music at the University of Wisconsin−Barron County in Rice Lake, Wis.

RYAN WIELAND is pastor at Country Chapel United Methodist Church in Dowling, Mich.

2004

CARA SEELEY-JOHNSON is a senior paralegal for the Corporate Secretary’s Office of U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis. She received the Circle of Service Excellence award, one of the company’s top honors, for her research on a difficult customer issue. BESS SORENSEN is a biostatistician at the University of Washington in Seattle.

TYNE’ (STEELE) RIECK is a quality assistant with Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa.

Wisconsin Dells, Wis., was the site for this gathering of Luther families last February. Pictured are (front, left to right) Will Irwin, Claire James, Anna Irwin, Emma James, Eva Leiberg; (back) Dave Irwin, Sarah (Norquist) Irwin ’00, Jen (Mann) Leiberg ’00, Eric Leiberg, Lily Leiberg, Ann (Knutson) James ’00, and Rob James ’01. L U T H E R

A L U M N I

JON AANESTAD is a selfemployed musician and session violinist in Boston. He recently toured the Northeast and Midwest, and was a violinist for the Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn. VANESSA ABBE is manager of advisory services at Ernst and Young in Minneapolis.

M A G A Z I N E

57 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 57

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News SARA (GOUDSCHAAL) and TERRY BLESSING ’06 live in Stillwater, Okla. Sara is a graduate assistant in choral conducting at Oklahoma State University; Terry is manager at Windbreak Ranch. SARA BRADLEY earned a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota. She teaches physical education and coaches girls track in the Hilbert (Wis.) School District.

DAVID LENNINGER is a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston, Wis. KINDRA (KRUSE) McGUIGAN is residential coordinator at Wellington Place in Decorah. NATE MILLS is a supply officer in the U.S. Navy in Oak Harbor, Wis.

CASSIE (LEE) CARPENTER is eighth-grade vocal music director in the Johnston (Iowa) Community School District.

DUSTY NASH earned a master’s degree in Near Eastern studies from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and is a doctoral candidate at Cornell in Hebrew Bible and Near Eastern studies.

MATT CARPENTER is executive director at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

CHRIS NELSON is a PMO project manager at RTI in Mendota Heights, Minn.

ADAM DAVIS is associate director of athletic performance and a strength and conditioning coach at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, focused mainly on the football and women’s volleyball programs.

KARI (PETERSON) and EVAN NELSON live in Madison, Wis. Kari earned a master’s degree in nursing from Marquette University, and is a pediatric cardiothoracic nurse practitioner at University of Wisconsin Health Physicians Plus. Evan is a faculty associate at the University of Wisconsin.

ANN (JACOBS) GRUENIG is a nurse supervisor and critical care nurse at Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota in Sioux Falls, S.D. KELLY HICKEY is an neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis. JOEL HOLLENBECK is owner of JH Enterprises in Amana, Iowa. MATT HUCK is first assistant department manager at Menards in West Burlington, Iowa.

Alumni who joined Carol Gilbertson (third from left), Luther professor emerita of English, Feb. 3 at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, included (left to right) Cara Stone ’05, Matt Eng ’08, Kari Myers ’08, Stephanie Hoff ’74, and Dan Kuester ’84. While at Grand View, Gilbertson presented a “Library after Hours” program focused on her chapbook, From a Distance, Dancing, and visited several English classes. KAIA (NORDAL) SHERBURNE is assistant director of admissions at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. MIRIAM (BLOM) SKRADE is head coach of the Ames (Iowa) High School boys tennis team. Dubbed the “First Lady of Ames Tennis,” for being the first female head coach of any boys team in the school’s 90-year history, she led the team to best-ever finishes as district champions and state runners-up in 2010 and Class 2A state champions in 2011. She was also awarded Boys Tennis Coach of the Year honors.

LAURA (LENIUS) NELSON is a registered nurse in emergency services at Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wis. JAN SAXHAUG is a graduate student in public policy at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. NICI SCHULT earned a juris doctorate from Boston University.

KATIE (MILLER) STOBBE is a corporate responsibility manager US at ArcelorMittal in Chicago. JULIE (ALBERTSON) STOVER is an associate in children’s ministry at Colonial Church in Edina, Minn. RUPAK THAPALIYA is a hydropower reform coalition coordinator at American Rivers, Inc. in Washington, D.C. CARISSA THOMAS earned a doctorate in cell and molecular biology from Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston. She is completing a medical doctorate, also at BCM.

A December gathering provided the perfect opportunity for these Luther moms to dress up their little ones in festive holiday pajamas. Pictured are (front, left to right) Meredith (Welton) Voight ’04 with children Eden and Jackson; Erin Gullickson ’02 with children Emmeline and Miles; Erica (Wanless) Rheinschmidt ’04 with daughters Kate and Molly; and Emily (Knuth) Stork ’04 with son David. L U T H E R

2005 KEITH BECKER is a senior human resources specialist at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

A L U M N I

GRETA BERNATZ earned a master’s degree in geographic information science from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is an instructor at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn. LINDSAY BERNHAGEN is a doctoral intern at the Ohio State University Center for the Advancement of Teaching in Columbus, Ohio. MEGAN CLARK is the school programs coordinator for the Chicago History Museum. GREG DAVIS earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota. He is an electronic medical record (EMR) support and change coordinator in the Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, Minn. ASHLEY (REIMAN) DODDRIDGE teaches sixth-grade math and sixth/seventh-grade language arts in the Spring Hill (Kan.) School District JOHN FRETHAM teaches social studies at Northwest High School in Clarkesville, Tenn. ANNA HAUG earned a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University. She is a client account coordinator at Coopera Consulting in Des Moines, Iowa. LINDSAY (MEYER) HUNKINS is a customer operations supervisor at SPS Commerce in Minneapolis.

M A G A Z I N E

58 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 58

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News SOHAIB KHAN is a copywriter at Ogilvy and Mather in Lahore, Pakistan. LINDSAY KIMBALL is assistant program director at Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current in St. Paul, Minn. ALISON MEIER earned a master’s degree in information management and systems from the University of California, Berkeley. She is an independent user experience strategist in San Francisco. JEFF MILLER is manager at Wipfli, LLP, in Rhinelander, Wis. ERIK OLSON is a data strategist at Kelvyn Park Senior High School in Chicago. MAUREEN ORSBORN is assistant director of annual giving at Winona (Minn.) State University. JUSTIN PATNODE is a retail account specialist for Pernod Ricard USA in St. Paul, Minn. KATIE PETTIGREW is a physical therapist at Peak Motion Physical Therapy in Albuquerque, N.M. KIRSTEN RUSSEL earned a master’s degree in English from Washington College in Chestertown, Md. She is head women’s soccer coach at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. SARAH SAMUELSON is a senior insurance accountant at John Deere Financial in Johnston, Iowa.

KYLA (SCHULENBERG) SCHOENWETTER is a thoracic clinical nurse specialist at the University of Wisconsin−Madison Hospitals and Clinics.

ADAM BOHACH won the Hy-Vee Amateur Division Race at the HyVee Triathlon last September in Des Moines, Iowa. ANNA BOLZ is a pastry sous chef at Per Se restaurant in New York.

JORDAN STADHEIM is a revenue tax specialist at the Minnesota Department of Revenue in St. Paul, Minn.

TANIA CONNOLLY is a special education teacher at Richfield Dual Language Elementary School in Richfield, Minn.

DAIN TePOEL is a graduate teaching associate at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He presented “When Words Speak Louder than Actions: Women in Sports Broadcasting” at the 2011 North American Society for the Sociology of Sports Conference in Minneapolis last November.

JONATHAN CURRY is a business development representative at Epicor Software Solutions in Minneapolis. SOCRATES GARCIA is a music instructor and interim director of music technology at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo.

BECCA TUMM earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota. She is a volunteer coordinator at St. Stephen’s Human Services in Minneapolis.

2006 HEATHER ARNESON earned an M.B.A. degree from Phoenix University; she is president of East Valley Consulting in Scottsdale, Ariz. ERIN (GALLAGHER) BELLINDER earned a master’s degree in special education and music therapy from the University of South Carolina. She is a preschool teacher for conductive education at The Therapy Place in Columbia, S.C.

ANNA (NORBY) OKRAH is a learning catalyst at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte, N.C. LAURA (SCHUURMAN) RASMUSSEN earned a master’s degree in Montessori education from St. Catherine University. She is an upper elementary teacher at Rochester (Minn.) Montessori School. LAURA SCHNACK is assistant director of residence life at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. ASHLEY (MEYER) SIRES is a special education teacher at Dunkerton (Iowa) Elementary School.

MARITA HERKERT-OAKLAND is a legislative analyst at the Wisconsin Legislative Bureau in Madison, Wis.

KRISTIN (SOLVERSON) SYMES is middle school director of choirs at the Singapore American School. She sings soprano leads with the Singapore Lyric Opera and Opera Viva companies, is a soprano soloist for Mass, and works with the Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra.

PETER ILTEN earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota. He teaches seventh grade English at Southwest Junior High School in Forest Lake, Minn.

LAURA TONKIN earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Iowa State University. She is a resident in small-animal internal medicine at Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Lafayette, Ind.

SPENCER JONES is a research associate at Pioneer Hi-Bred International in Des Moines, Iowa.

ANDREA (TRIMBLE) TUOMI works in business administration at Liberty Resources, LLC, in Denver.

KATIE (STRIEGEL) JOSEPHSON is a Chinese medicine practitioner at Acupuncture One Wellness Center in Westlake Village, Calif.

KATIE (SAUTER) WILLIAMS is a client services analyst at ProfitStars in Omaha, Neb. ZACH ZUBOW is a research assistant at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. SAM ZUMDAHL of Woodbury, Minn., is senior fitness coordinator at the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities.

TIMO MECHLER earned a master’s degree in business administration from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. He is an associate and research analyst at Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy in Stamford, Conn.

Alumni who enjoyed dinner in San Diego Dec. 12 in conjunction with the Entomological Society of America annual meeting included (left to right) Brian McCornack ’98, assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State University; Amy Morey ’06, doctoral student at the University of Minnesota; Kirk Larsen, Luther professor of biology; Alysha Soper ’09, graduate student at Kansas State University; David Coyle ’97, postdoctoral research scholar at the University of Georgia; and Nick Schmidt ’04, Pioneer HiBred employee. L U T H E R

MICHELLE MONSON is a financial consultant with Thrivent Financial in Edina, Minn. AARON MURPHY co-owns The Early Bird coffee shop in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A L U M N I

2007 DUFFEY AINSWORTH JR. earned a master’s degree in sports leadership from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. CHEYANNE BODDICKER is assistant director of development for major gifts at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. ANNE (STENSVOLD) CURLEY is a tax printer at McGladry in Rochester, Minn.

M A G A Z I N E

59 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 59

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News PHILIP KNUTH is a grain originator for the River Valley Cooperative in Anamosa, Iowa.

MEGAN (MANTHEY) and ERIC ELLINGSON ’06 live in St. Paul, Minn. Megan is a nurse at Fairview Southdale Hospital; Eric is an emergency medicine resident at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

ELIZABETH KOENIG is a professional development manager of operations and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) at the National Youth Leadership Council in St. Paul, Minn.

KRISTIN GALSTAD is a software test engineer at SWAT Solutions, Inc. in St. Louis Park, Minn.

JULIA (VELTRI) NOONAN earned a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Iowa. She is a physical therapist at Lawrence (Kan.) Memorial Hospital.

LEAH KINNAIRD earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Northern Iowa; she is domestic violence liaison at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. AMY (SCHMEIDEL) KLEIN earned a medical doctorate from the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa. KYLE KNIGHT teaches high school social studies and coaches in the Galena (Ill.) Public Schools. JON MADSON is a business systems analyst at Transamerica in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. BLAKE NELLIS is a dancer at Stuart Pimsler Dance Theater in Minneapolis. He is also a self-employed educator and artist. CARMEN (CLINE) RANGEL is a senior associate in contract administration and operations at Galliard Capital Management in Minneapolis.

Luther alumni and staff gathered Nov. 18 at Iowa State University in Ames during the Iowa Music Educators Association Conference. Pictured are (front, left to right) Nicole Brown ’07, Laura (McCarty) Cooper ’09, Joan deAlbuquerque (Luther director of bands), Jesse Bunge ’11; (back) Eric Layden ’08, Matthew Drees ’10, Cara Stone ’05, Joseph Svendsen ’06, Bethany Seedorff ’05, Jim Buzza (Dorian Music coordinator), Katie (Schaefer) Hom ’05, Darcy Hendriks ’00, and Erin Torkelson ’09. JORDAN WIKLUND is working on the book Cribbageland: The People, Craft & Culture of a Curious Game. His work and research was featured in a Nov., 2011, Minneapolis StarTribune article. He is an editor at Beaver’s Pond Press in Edina, Minn.

MATT ENG is an academic adviser at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

KATHERINE (HARROLD) WORTHINGTON teaches fifth grade in the Boone (Iowa) Community School District.

ANNE (KARLIN) and RYAN GIBBS live in St. Louis. Anne earned a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis and earned the Licensed Master of Social Work designation and School Social Work Certificate. She is a crisis counselor and school social worker at Webster Groves High School. Ryan is director of youth ministries and contemporary worship at Webster Hills United Methodist Church.

2008

AMY (GMINSKI) SCHULTZ is program manager of operations at Quad/Graphics, Inc. in Sussex, Wis.

RACHAEL (MOORE) AHART is a police officer for the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill.

ERICA (SVIEN) SWENSON is a special education teacher in the St. Anthony-New Brighton School District in St. Anthony, Minn.

JORDAN ANDERSON is an electronic files specialist with USIS/ Labat in Washington, D.C.

SARAH WARNER is a residential services supervisor at St. David’s Center for Child and Family Development in Minnetonka, Minn. BRIANNA WASSINK is high school and middle school orchestra director in the Faribault (Minn.) Public Schools. She also serves on the Minnesota Orchestra’s Crescendo Project board of directors as the education committee chair, and is chair of the nominating committee. ANNA (DYRUD) WEDEKIND is a Web designer at Greenspring Media Group in Minneapolis.

ADRIE FOREMAN is an assistant manager in BP shoes at Nordstrom in Bloomington, Minn.

AARON NYQUIST is an attorney at Alan Anderson Law Firm, LLC, in Minneapolis. MELISSA (OESTMANN) PORT teaches fifth and sixth grade at Bonneville Elementary School in Ogden, Utah. DAVID QUAM is a loan administration manager at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Des Moines, Iowa. JENESSA (BONIKOWSKE) REID earned a master’s degree in school counseling from Concordia University in Mequon, Wis. She is school counselor at Marshfield (Wis.) High School.

HANNAH KNUDSON ’15

KAREN (KOZA) JOHNSON is a physical therapist at Fairview Seminary Home in Red Wing, Minn.

EMILY HEETLAND is an English language learner (ELL) teacher in the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools.

KATE BLAIR is a family and community engagement coordinator at the AmeriCorps Borton Primary School in Tucson, Ariz.

MARY ITES is a development associate at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

DANIELLE (STORK) and JOSH BRUFLODT live in Madison, Wis. Dani is information manager at Kluis Publishing; Josh is a software test engineer at Epic Systems.

DANE JENSEN is an account manager at Proto Labs in Maple Plain, Minn. He is also a menswear model for ShopNBC.

BETH ELLINGSON of Denver earned a master’s degree in health and human services administration from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn.

SOPHIA JOHNSON is an event coordinator at Sprint by ASW in Minneapolis.

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

SPENCER KNAPP is a sales assist team lead at HP Enterprise Services in Little Rock, Ark.

A L U M N I

Becky Stiger ’08 delivered the lecture “Human Trafficking: Finding Hope at the Intersections of Tragedy, Justice, and Mercy” March 7 in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. While on campus, Stiger—program coordinator at Chicago Commons and program development director at Traffick Free—also visited several classes and delivered the keynote address at the annual Don Kemp Memorial Event.

60 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 60

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News ALUMNI PROFILE

Young ’07 doesn't miss a beat in career as percussionist Within months of Danny Young ’07 quickly arriving in California, figured out that playing Young landed a gig drumthe trumpet wasn’t his ming with the ’50s group destiny. Introduced to the the Platters, then on its instrument at age seven, nationwide “Lost in the he harbored no love for it ’50s with the Platters” from the start. tour. In the years since, “I really preferred taphe has worked on several ping and hitting things,” cruise ships (drumming he says. “After much for the musicals Hairspray! debate with my dad, I and Chicago); performed finally got to play drums with artists ranging from instead.” country musician Derryl There was, however, Perry and “the ’80s hair a catch. band” Nelson to songstress “My dad insisted that Maureen McGovern; and I be a ‘percussionist,’ opened for David Cassidy, not a ‘drummer,’ ” recalls Ronnie Milsap, and the Young, who learned piaSticks in hand, Danny Young ’07 relaxes surrounded by the drum set he plays on the heavy metal band no, xylophone, bells, and national tour of Young Frankenstein the Musical. Slaughter. snare before tackling the Living out of a suitcase, he notes, can drum set. “He wanted me to study more “Performing on stage was so much more fun be challenging and exhausting, but the than just drum sets, be able to read music, than I had ever imagined, and girls wanting rewards of living life on the road have far and, most importantly, play musically.” my autograph sealed the deal.” outweighed the drawbacks Apparently father as he has visited parts of knew best. “Jazz Orchestra really helped my post-Luther the world most people Young, a Nashvilleonly dream of seeing. (His based musician, credits his career by emphasizing the importance of listening work has taken him to the father’s sage advice for the to the group.” United Arab Emirates, quickness with which he Spain, France, Italy, Sicily, mastered his latest engageLuther’s Jazz Orchestra gave Young more Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Germany, and ment—playing drums and percussion chances to show off his musical chops— Austria, as well as cities across the United for the national Broadway tour of Young and, yes, honor just a few more autograph States.) “Along with drumming, traveling Frankenstein the Musical by Mel Brooks. requests. As lead drummer for the group, is one of my greatest passions,” he says. “I “One of the main reasons the Broaddirected by Juan Tony Guzmán ’90, he toured will cherish the places I’ve seen and things way world has come fairly easily to me nationally and internationally—including I’ve experienced for the rest of my life.” is that the drumming in these shows is the Dominican Republic—while digesting No doubt more unforgettable experireally an extension of the choreography,” lessons that would serve him well. ences lie ahead, during the remaining he says. “Every crash, woodblock, cow“Jazz Orchestra really helped my postmonths of the Young Frankenstein tour—it bell, and triangle is perfectly placed with Luther career by emphasizing the importance runs through June—and the gigs beyond. something happening on stage—it all has of listening to the group, continuously workWhatever those may be. to be one cohesive unit.” ing on your sight-reading, and being as pre“The résumés are out and my website To be sure, Young has come a long pared as you can be every day,” Young says. is updated, so now I wait,” Young says. way from banging away on the drums as A music and communication studies “That’s what makes this line of work so a child in his family’s Wisconsin home. double major, he landed a job with Los exciting—you never know from day to day (The best Christmas of his life, he says, Angeles-based producer Tim Jacobsen ’89 what adventures or places may be waiting was when he got his first drum set.) Up to upon graduation in 2007. The job was around the corner.” four hours of practice each day paid off in interesting—involving work in film and 2001 when he landed a spot in the band television—and the company’s Hollywood Visit www.dannyplaysdrums.com to view for Kids from Wisconsin, a touring perforlocation proved key in establishing the convideos of Young at work (and play). mance group for musically gifted youth. nections that would soon open doors in the “That’s when I first started thinking ultra-competitive music industry. —Sara Friedl-Putnam about drumming professionally,” he says.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

61 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 61

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News ALEX REILLY is a securities licensing specialist at RBC Wealth Management in Minneapolis.

2010

MEGAN HELDERMAN earned a doctorate in physical therapy from St. Ambrose University. She is a physical therapist in the outpatient physical therapy department at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago.

DREW BAUMAN is chief technology officer of Fullscreen, Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif. He won the Twilio Developer Contest for his texting application, TxtBeer.

KIRSTEN (EPPELSHEIMER) HOFFER is an assistant teacher at Teaching Temps, Inc. in Minneapolis. She is also a graduate student in education/teaching at Hamline University. ELISE (HOEHN) and CLAYTON WARD live in Moline, Ill. Elise is a landscape designer and K-8 visual arts instructor at All Saints Catholic School and webmaster for the Quad City Therapy Dog Team. She recently published her first children’s book, Zoe’s Tail, Journey of a Therapy Dog. Clayton earned a master’s degree in business administration from Ashford University and is director of spiritual growth and discipleship at New Hope Church, and business coordinator at Fountains Senior Living Community. DANIELLE WILLI is a Head Start teacher at Community Action of Eastern Iowa in Davenport, Iowa. MEGAN (SCHROEDER) ZILLGITT teaches elementary music at Cannon Falls (Minn.) Elementary School; she was selected by her peers as the school’s Teacher of the Year for 2011–12.

2009 KATE BARTON is a registered nurse in the cardiac surgical ICU at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

TYLER BERRY earned a master’s degree in international affairs from Peking University in Bejiing, China. CARSON CHRISTEN is an exercise physiologist at FasCat Endurance Coaching Co. in Boulder, Colo.

BLAKE HUMPAL is a “The Perfect Fit” in-home consultant for JeldWen in Chicago.

PHUONG DAU is a research assistant at the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, Calif.

ASHLEY JOHNSON is branch manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Forest Lake, Minn.

BARBARA EISENMENGER earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of St. Thomas. She is a clinical social worker at HealthChoices-Spectrum Community Mental Health in Minneapolis.

EMILY OLSON is a retail standards evaluator at Kwik Trip, Inc. in La Crosse, Wis. NATHAN OSTLIE is a consultant at Solution Design Group in Minnetonka, Minn.

ABBEY ENDERT is a crew member of the Conservation Corps of Minnesota in Maplewood, Minn.

CHRISTA (PERSON) REYNOLDS is a medical social worker at the Iowa Hospice in Ames, Iowa.

MAKARA FAIRMAN earned a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. She is development coordinator at Vital Bridges Center for Chronic Care in Chicago.

KAY SKELTON is an MDS and care coordinator at Arden Rehabilitation and Health Care in Sacramento, Calif. BETH TISTHAMMER is choral director in the Rushford-Peterson Schools in Rushford, Minn.

JOSH GERBER works in event management as owner of Wayzata Results, Inc., which times cross country races, road races, and track meets around the upper Midwest. The company timed the IIAC Cross Country Championships at Luther last fall, and will manage more than 100 events in 2012.

KAYLA (BOCK) TOUFAR is an account manager at Business Impact Group in Chanhassen, Minn. MELANIE WARGOWSKI is an implementation specialist at Epic Systems in Verona, Wis.

LAURA GRANGAARD is a student worker with the Minnesota Department of Health in St. Paul, Minn.

STEPHANIE BORGEN is a business analyst at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

JOY WAUGHTAL is volunteer and sponsorship coordinator at Concerts for Kids in Denver.

LAURA DELIKOWSKI earned a master’s degree in education in professional counseling with an emphasis on student affairs and college counseling from the University of Wisconsin−Oshkosh.

ANDREW WEBBER earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin− Madison. He is an electrical engineer at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

ASHLEY (BEEK) FARLEY is a sales specialist at Advanced Systems, Inc. in Decorah.

LAURA WILLIAMS is an English teacher at Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

MAKALA JOHNSON is a public affairs associate at Mayo Medical Center in Rochester, Minn. She recently produced “Know Your Numbers,” a video promoting hearthealth awareness. A parody of the 1982 hit single “867-5309/Jenny,” it has garnered almost 65,000 hits on YouTube.

EMILY WROBEL is vocal music director in the Anamosa (Iowa) Community School District.

MARK KNOWLES JR. is a paralegal at Tressler Law, LLC, in Golden Valley, Minn.

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

LIZ HANSEN is associate director of annual giving for parent programs at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C.

A L U M N I

Krumm ’09 lands fellowship with San Francisco Opera Laura Krumm ’09—a graduate student at the University of North Texas (UNT)—has received an Adler Fellowship with the San Francisco Opera, the second-largest opera company in North America. As a 2012 Adler Fellow, Krumm will have intensive individual training and coaching and participate in professional seminars and performances with the company. The ten Adler fellows were selected from the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, which has a pool of more than 800 candidates worldwide. A mezzo-soprano, Krumm is pursuing a master’s degree in vocal performance at UNT, where she won the 2011 UNT Concerto Competition. As a 2011 member of the Merola Opera Program, she was featured in scenes from I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Rigoletto. Krumm has also performed in concerts and operas with La Musica Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy, and OperaWorks in Los Angeles. MANASWINI RAMKUMAR earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University. She is a senior analyst of the Military Studies Programme at the

62 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 62

4/17/12 5:03 PM

Alumni News

“Collaborative research ignites something within students; I relish those moments when students realize that they have discovered something new.” —Brad Chamberlain, associate professor of chemistry, seen here with Luther's new NMR spectrometer, the most powerful tool in the chemistry laboratory. Dr. Chamberlain is working with seven students to develop plant-based, biodegradable plastics from agricultural commodities such as corn and soybeans. Made possible through a grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the NMR spectrometer has greatly accelerated their progress.

Increased alumni participation in giving to the Annual Fund not only shows your love and support for Luther but is often a key factor in Luther’s success in applying for grants from corporations and foundations. Make your gift today! www.givenow.luther.edu S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. LAUREN RAUCHWARTER earned a master’s degree in communication, technology, and society from Clemson University; she is a communication studies lab instructor at the university in Clemson, S.C.

2011 KELSEY BALK is a project manager at Epic Systems in Madison, Wis. NATALIE BAUDLER is internal communications coordinator at Hormel Foods in Austin, Minn. BLAIR BOEHNKE volunteered with Mission of Mercy in Bangladesh. TIM CAMPBELL volunteers in schools through City Year in Chicago. ADDISON CHOI is on the audit staff at Ehrhardt, Keefe, Steiner, and Hottman in Denver.

CHRIS HARBAUGH is a graduate student in school psychology at the University of Northern Iowa.

ALI COWMEADOW is a resource call specialist at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center in Washington, D.C. MITCH DIETZ is a freelance composer, trumpeter, and private lesson instructor in Chatfield, Minn.

MICHAEL HART is a public finance investment banker with Northland Securities in Minneapolis.

BRETT EPPERSON is a music coordinator at St. John Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

AMIE HELLER is the morning cohost and music director at KQ98 in La Crosse, Wis.

LEAH FORSBERG is a graduate student in medicinal chemistry at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

MARI HENDERSON is a marketing intern for Thomson Reuters in Minneapolis. LISA HIEB is a PCR Lab Technologist at SGS-Brookings in Brookings, S.D.

ERIN GILBERTSON is a community health volunteer for the Peace Corps in Portoviejo, Ecuador.

SAMANTHA JEWELL is a student in the doctor of physical therapy program at Des Moines (Iowa) University.

KARL GILBERTSON is a manufacturing technician at SurModics in Eden Prairie, Minn.

ALEXANDRA JOHNSON is a student in the doctor of physical therapy program at Washington University in St. Louis.

COURTNEY GILL teaches Spanish at Rochester (Minn.) Montessori School. COURTNEY GRUTZ is a tax consultant at Deloitte and Touche in Minneapolis.

L U T H E R

KIA JOHNSON is a student resource advocate for AmeriCorps at

A L U M N I

Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College. RYAN KUHN is a graduate student in the master of business administration program and a sports marketing graduate assistant at the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) KELLY KUSSMAN is a graduate student in opera performance at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. KATE McDONALD is a graduate student in health promotion at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. NNAMDI OKOLUE is an auditor working with nonprofits and government clients at LarsonAllen in Minneapolis. KATE PATTERSON is a demand forecast analyst at Best Buy in Minneapolis. MELISSA RECORD is associate director of Camp Amnicon in South Range, Wis.

M A G A Z I N E

63 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 63

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News JENNA REISHUS is a research assistant on health care access at the V.A. Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa. DANA SONNICKSEN is a K-5 English language learner (ELL) teacher in the Albert Lea (Minn.) School District. KATE STEBBINS is a registered nurse at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. CAMILLE STENHAUG is part of the tax staff at Ernst and Young in Minneapolis. She also volunteers with Ace Hoops, a faith-based nonprofit that uses basketball to reach out to urban youth. KATIE (CUMMINGS) TJADER is an assistant to the project manager at Abhe and Svoboda, Inc. a construction company in Prior Lake, Minn. MEGAN WOBSCHALL is a registered nurse at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. ALICIA WOODHOUSE is a customer care representative at CarePro Heath Services in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. BRYNNE ZINNECKER is an auditor at McGladrey and Pullen, LLP, in Minneapolis.

2012 LAUREN GRIFFIN is an event coordinator at March of Dimes in Edina, Minn. AMY SANDAGER is a volunteer EFL teacher for Teach and Learn with Georgia in Gurjaani, Republic of Georgia.

1971

BETH TISINGER and Zachary Beese, Sept. 5, 2010

JANE LARSON and Ralph Ross, Oct. 1, 2011

2000

1979

ANDY HAASE and Jennifer O’Connor, Aug. 13, 2011

CHERYL WESTRUM and Richard Bressler, Feb. 19, 2010

2001

1980

MOLLIE BUSTA and Ted Lange, Oct. 19, 2011

GREG ORWOLL and Shirley Davis, Sept. 17, 2011

JENNIFER KNAPP and JOSHUA SEVERSON ’06, Sept. 10, 2011 STEVE ONDRASHEK and Alden Condict, July 1, 2010

1981 DONITA HOOK and Jeff Joens, Oct. 29, 2011.

1982

2003

JON PLOETZ and Amy May, March 26, 2011

TIFFANY ALLEN and Jim West, May 7, 2011

STEPHANIE ROLLIE and John Rodriguez, Oct. 29, 2011

JACQUELINE HALVERSON and Benjamin Inbody, July 23, 2011

1996

EVAN PETERSON and Jennifer White, Oct. 22, 2011

LUTHER KOENIG and Mindy Schnuelle, June 11, 2011

COURTNEY SCHUBERT and Michael Stangl, May 7, 2011

Marriages

1998

2004

1958

AMANDA DREWS and Bennett Deacy, Jan. 14, 2012

JULIE ALBERTSON and Mark Stover, Aug. 28, 2010

FELICE HAHN and Donald Bastian, Jan. 21, 2012

ANNIE HIBBS and ERIK ULNESS, Nov. 12, 2011

1999

JESSICA JANSEN and Mike Nicoletti, Oct. 22, 2011

JODY BENNETT and Dale Busch, July 9, 2011.

L U T H E R

JON HOFFMAN and Patrick Woods, Oct. 1, 2010 SARAH KNUTH and Joaquin Juarez, July 9, 2011 TIA TOSO and Micah Stinson, Oct. 2, 2011

NICK BANNON and Katie Potter, March 26, 2011

HEIDI DRAHEIM and Abraham Shadbeh, Oct. 3, 2010

1995

DAN CARLSON and Valerie Taft, July 31, 2010

LIZ YOUNGQUIST and Kevin Selby, Jan. 14, 2012

MEGAN CONOVER and Andy Krueger, Sept. 10, 2011

WAYNE KNOCKEL and James Lynch, Jan. 2, 2012

2005

2006

AMY BLEM and Vladimir von Barnes, Sept. 30, 2011

1987

RUPAK THAPALIYA and Neha Khanal, Dec. 15, 2010

CARA SEELEY and Steve Johnson, Sept. 24, 2011

2002

KRISTI SORTEBERG and Mark Reierson, Dec. 30, 2011

ANNA PLAGMAN and Greg Davis, May 28, 2011

BECKY KNOTT and Seth Porter, May 21, 2011

A L U M N I

ASHLEY MEYER and Adam Sires, April 16, 2011 JEN MILLER MEYER and Brian Donovan, Aug. 12, 2011 LAURA SCHUURMAN and Ed Rasmussen, July 8, 2011 ANDEE TRIMBLE and Michael Tuomi, July 30, 2011 ELENA VOLOSHYNOVA and Loren Phillips, June 25, 2011

2007 CLAIRE BARVIR and Matt Tschann, Aug. 13, 2011 RYAN HAHN and Beth Struzynski, July 2, 2011 ANNIE HERRIG and CARSON BRUNS ’08, July 9, 2011 STACY HORNING and DAN OLSON ’09, Oct. 1, 2011 KAREN KOZA and Brent Johnson, Aug. 6, 2011 SARAH MURRELL and KARL SWENSON ’06, Aug. 6, 2011 KASSIE PETERMANN and JEFF BECK ’06, Oct. 1, 2011 STACY PROCTOR and Shawn Vaughan, Aug. 27, 2011 AMY SCHMEIDEL and KRIS KLEIN ’08, Sept. 17, 2011

M A G A Z I N E

64 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 64

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News 2008

LINDSAY PRUIS and Steve Biedermann, Oct. 7, 2011

JENNESSA BONIKOWSKE and Justin Reid, Oct. 15, 2011

CHRISTOPHER ZINK and Domonique DeWild, Nov. 5, 2011

JILL (KUHLMANN) and Royal Schladetzky, a daughter, Stella Josephine, Sept. 30, 2011 Karen and MARK SHERMAN, a son, Nathan Enrique, Nov. 18, 2011

KALLY HOTVEDT and Andrew Thraenert, Sept. 3, 2011 BETSY GILBERTSON and Jesse Meehan, Sept. 17, 2011 RACHAEL MOORE and Aaron Ahart, Dec. 10, 2011 MELISSA OESTMANN and Jeremie Port, Oct. 8, 2011 DANI STORK and JOSH BRUFLODT, June 4, 2011 NICKI SVESTKA and Aaron TerBeest, July 1, 2011 JULIA VELTRI and Maury Noonan, Aug. 20, 2011

2009 KAYLA BOCK and JOSH TOUFAR ’08, June 25, 2011

Patty and JOHN STORLIE, a daughter, Francelia Kathleen, April 25, 2011

BIRTHS/ADOPTIONS

1994

1989 KARLA (PRATT) and Shinji Sakamoto, a son, Luca Haruto, Sept. 11, 2010

1995

1990 KELLY (BJUGAN) and JJ Hudson, a daughter, Annika Bjugan, June 13, 2010

1992

LIZ JOHNSON and KYLE BARLOW, Oct. 15, 2011

BRIDGET (BENSON) and Walter Berry, a daughter, Kensley Christine, Jan. 20, 2011

CAMRY MONSON and Nate Crist, March 19, 2011

2010 JAMES DRIESSEN and Brittany Ostlund, Aug. 13, 2011 KELLY BAUMLER and Lance Bouska, Sept. 10, 2011 RYAN DEIGNAN and Abby Burgason, Sept. 3, 2011 KIRSTEN JENSSON and TAYLOR SCHOLZ, Oct. 8, 2011 MOLLY WEBER and ERIC St CLAIR, Oct. 22, 2011

2011 KATE CUMMINGS and Dylan Tjader, July 1, 2011 TATUM NORTON and TJ Iverson, Aug. 27, 2011

ELISABETH MOTLONG and Mark Goetcheus, a son, Seeger Motlong, Nov. 11, 2011

BERGETTA (BERKLAND) and John Beardsley, a daughter, Elise Faith Jack, Sept. 22, 2010

JANET BRENTON and Seth Boyes, July 16, 2011

TARA MEYER and Matt Zuercher, May 28, 2010

TRACY MADDEN and Josh Mathews, a son, Gracin Joshua Madden, Oct. 23, 2011

1996

MICHELLE (LAHTI) and Michael Colbert, a daughter, Lauren Marie, Aug. 12, 2011 ANDREA (MOSS) and JASON ELGIN, a son, Eli, Dec. 29, 2011 GAYLE (DUNKEL) and Rolf Gort, a daughter, Magdalena Mackenzie, July 31, 2011 BETH (LARSON) and Tony Gretillat, a daughter, Millie, Dec. 31, 2010 ALISON (HATCH) and Chad Heltemes, a daughter, Lauren Jean, Sept. 11, 2010 KELLY (TIKKANEN) and Greg Lang, a son, Nickolas James, Nov. 8, 2011 KIRSTEN (OLSON) and John O’Quinn, a son, Oliver Henry, July 29, 2011 JENNIFER (RODELL) and MATT PRESTEGAARD ’96, a daughter, Maren Elizabeth, Sept. 10, 2010 Bethany and KEVIN SCHMOLL, two daughters, Peyton, Oct. 10, 2010, Chloe, Nov. 11, 2011 LISA (JOHNSON) and DAN SHAW ’97, a daughter, Abigail Marie, Dec. 1, 2011

Pam and DIRK BUETTNER, a son, Caleb Matthias, Oct. 31, 2010

Makenzie Dean (left), age 3, cuddles with little sister Chloe, born Aug. 19, 2011. They are the daughters of Kristi (Lenning) ’96 and Jimmy Dean.

CORA (GRIFFIN) and Jim Dillin, a son, Andrew, Jan. 2, 2011 MELISA (DOKKEN) and Eric Gesick, a daughter, Catherine Grace, Oct. 15, 2010 Fabiana and TOM HUTTON, a son, Julian Antonio, Nov. 24, 2011 Lindsey and KEVIN KIRKEBY, a son, Kellen Douglas, Feb. 6, 2011 Charity and CHRIS TYLER, a daughter, Samantha Rose, Jan. 17, 2012

1993

STEPHANIE (NORSTAD) and Daniel Scheffler, a daughter, Rachel Nora, May 30, 2011

ANN (BERGLUND) and Niklaus Ballard, a son, Zak Logan, Aug. 9, 2011 ANGELA (HOUSE) and STEVE GRITTON ’04, a son, Andrew Steven, April 14, 2011

JAIME SCHULTZ and PAUL HEFTY ’86, a daughter, Nella Bee, Dec. 6, 2011

Sarah and BRAD HERRICK, a daughter, Cora Violet, March 15, 2011

1997

AMY (HINSHAW) and ANDREW NYREN, a son, James David Biyadgilign, born Jan. 27, 2011, adopted, Sept. 17, 2011

DANA (JACOB-DVORSKY) and Andy Messenger, a daughter, Avery Jacob, April 11, 2011

Mari and PAUL MELIN, a son, Oscar Erik, Aug. 21, 2010

1999

AMY (VON RUEDEN) and BRAD LUND, a daughter, Scarlett, Oct.25, 2011

KATHY (LINDSTROM) and Eric Knoll, a son, Connor Andrew, Nov. 1, 2010

Tanya and FAUST GERTZ, a son, Eli Paul Bishman, Dec. 22, 2011

L U T H E R

1998

LAURA (BEAMAN) and Jason Pike, a son, Wyatt Thomas, April 6, 2011

A L U M N I

DANIELLE (SKILBRED) and Dale Senn, a daughter, Jocelyn Sally, Sept. 28, 2011 JEN HANSON and Nkin Suwannakorn, a son, Chahyakon, March 28, 2010

M A G A Z I N E

65 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 65

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News 2000 SARAH (KODET) and Corey Goebel, a daughter, Piper Reagan, Feb. 28, 2011 Meredith and BEN KESELEY, a daughter, Julia Mae, Sept. 7, 2011 Laura and JARROD LEDER, a daughter, Claudia Ellen, Oct. 19, 2011 JODI (WENNER) and David Nixon, a son, Kolby Wenner, April 9, 2011

2001 MINDY (MOORE) and BRENT EBLING ’99, a daughter, Addison Malin, Aug. 11, 2011 SUZANNE (CIPRA) and Todd Haag, a daughter, Emmy Jane, Jan. 9, 2012 ANDREA (SHIRK) and Justin Hockert, a son, Reese Paul, Oct. 13, 2011 ANN (MARTENS) and J.D. Miller, a son, James Mark, Sept. 5, 2011 APRIL ROWE NEAL and JAMES NEAL, a son, Gavin Richard, Jan. 4, 2012 LAURA SHAW and Dan Niemitalo, a daughter, Lydia, June 23, 2011

2002

ERICA (WANLESS) and SCOTT RHEINSCHMIDT, a daughter, Kathryn, Nov. 12, 2011

ERIN (GULLICKSON) and RYAN CONWAY ’03, twins; a daughter, Emeline Rose, a son, Miles Asher, May 4, 2011 Jamie and JOE GAVLE, a daughter, Maggie, Feb. 11, 2010

MEG (WILLIAMS) and DAIN TEPOEL ’05, a daughter, June Margot Williams, Dec. 23, 2011

JEN (ARMSTRONG) and Jeffrey Kolcz, a son, Lincoln, May 18, 2011

Rachel and TOM VELISHEK, a son, Vance Thomas, Dec. 9, 2011

Alissa (Brown) Plumley ’03 cuddles with daughter Savannah Ann Plumley, born Feb. 27, 2011.

Sarah and TYLER REIHMANN, a daughter, Abigayle Katherine, Jan. 1, 2012 ANIKA (LINDALL) and ROBB SELLMEYER, a son, Charles Edward, April 5, 2011

2004

HEIDI DRAHEIM and Abraham Shadbeh, a son, Oliver, Nov. 16, 2011

CAROLYN (YOUNES) and EVAN ALMELIEN ’03, a son, Edward Ronald, Sept. 22, 2010

CHERI (DHUSE) and Shane Troumbly, a son, Hudson, March 29, 2011

BECKY BARTH and DYLAN FLUNKER ’08, a daughter, Norah Claire, Nov. 19, 2011

2003

SARA (GOUDSCHAAL) and TERRY BLESSING ’05, a daughter, Aria Elizabeth, Aug. 29, 2011

TANYA (LEAKE) and MARK ANDERSON, a daughter, Lily Abigail, June 5, 2011

CASSIE (LEE) and Robbie Carpenter, a son, Rocco Reid, Oct. 10, 2010

KATE (SWENSON) and JOSH CINNAMO, a son, Tate Joshua, Dec. 17, 2011

ANN (JACOBS) and Tom Gruenig, a daughter, Alivia, July 11, 2011

MONICA (MANSHOLT) and Scott Benolkin, a daughter, Claire Marie, Sept. 16, 2011

Alicia Beck and DANNY ADAMS, a son, Dustin Richard, May 23, 2011 KELLY (RIES) and CHRIS DAHL, a son, Joshua John, July 13, 2011 Karen and MATT HIGGINS, a son, Thomas, June 24, 2011

2006 RACHEL (WINWOOD) and KEITH BECKER ’05, a son, Reid Allen, Dec. 25, 2011 Alicia and SPENCER JONES, a son, Liam Gregory, Sept. 24, 2011 AMY (LEIN) and Chris Loker, a daughter, Aria Lynn, Dec. 4, 2011 KRISTIN (SOLVERSON) and Josh Symes, a daughter, Lucy Marie, Sept. 30, 2011

ABBY (SULLIVAN) and Coral Kenyon, a daughter, Madelyn Jane, Nov. 29, 2011 STEPHANIE (CITTA) and Scott Klein, a daughter, Evangelyn Margaret born, Dec. 22, 2011, adopted, Dec. 26, 2011 MEGAN (LARSEN) and Mike Lovinguth, a son, Connor Joseph, Oct. 10, 2011

Malea Hollenbeck, born May 11, 2011, is the daughter of Heidi and Joel Hollenbeck ’04.

CARRIE (WALLING) and JACOB NIMROD ’01, a son, Leonard Williams, April 30, 2011

Jack Bravo, born July 17, 2011, is the son of Alicia (Decker) ’02 and Mike Bravo.

2005

Kari and BRYAN PRATT, a daughter, Celia, Oct. 20, 2011

Heidi and JOEL HOLLENBECK, a daughter, Malea Grace, May 11, 2011

Meghan and JUSTIN SANDS, a son, August Edin, Oct. 13, 2011

Lorena and DUSTY NASH, a son, Elias James, Nov. 24, 2011

Amy and JOE SIEVERS, a son, Jackson Paul, Oct. 15, 2011

KARI (PETERSON) and EVAN NELSON, a daughter, Paige Linnea, June 28, 2011

LAURA (AMUNDSON) and ALEX SMITH, a son, Bennett Dean, Jan. 10, 2012

EMILY (JENSEN) and Michael Pollard, a son, Rylan, Jan. 16, 2011

COURTNEY (SCHUBERT) and Michael Stangl, a daughter, Nayeli Lorraine, Oct. 7, 2011

Sara and JON REM, a daughter, Emma Grace Kelly, Aug. 23, 2011

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

Born several weeks prematurely on Sept. 27, 2010, twins (left to right) Caleb and Benjamin Alvin—sons of Celina (Bortz) ’06 and Eric Alvin—are now thriving. Celina writes, “They spent two months in the NICU but are now happy, healthy boys.” KATIE (SAUTER) and KRIS WILLIAMS, a son, Levi Joseph, Oct. 27, 2011 Lauren and ZACH ZUBOW, a daughter, Adelaide Faith, Oct. 22, 2011

66 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 66

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News 2007

1938

CHELSEA (NEWMEISTER) and Kurt Liske, a son, Sawyer, Dec. 17, 2011 LISA (HUINKER) and JASON RUDE, a son, Landon Roste, Jan. 26, 2011

2008 LAURA (TITUSDAHL) and KARL BOLEEN, a daughter, Amelia Diane, Jan. 17, 2012 Lacey and SETH FULTON, a son, Liam Bradley, Dec. 29, 2011

2010

Norse fan Carter Todd, born Aug. 1, 2011, is the son of Brittany (Buczek) ’10 and Nathan Todd ’09.

OBITUARIES

1937 JOHN CHRISTOPHER of Baraboo, Wis., died Oct. 19, 2011, at age 97. After graduation from Luther he farmed for several years, then moved west to work for North American Van Lines. He married Roma Hasey in 1945 and they had two sons, James and Robert. Christopher later married Helen Holland. In 1991, when he was 77 years old, he married Elva Staveness. He is survived by his son James Christopher; two granddaughters; and special friends, Norb and Cindy Moy of Baraboo. He was preceded in death by his wives; son Robert; and a sister, Valborg Caldwell. He was a member of Heritage Club at Luther.

1939

Minn. In 1941, he entered the Army Air Corps, then finished cadet training at Kirtland Air Force Base during World War II and became a navigator-bombardier instructor as a First Lieutenant. He instructed the use of the once top-secret Norden bombsight while stationed in New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. During his Army career, Forde flew training missions with actor Jimmy Stewart and had many tales to tell. After the war, he worked for 35 years in the labor relations department of Giddings & Lewis Machine Tool Company in Fond du Lac, Wis. He served on the board of directors and as vice president of the East Wisconsin Savings and Loan, and also served as a director for the Wisconsin State Safety Council, the Kaukauna (Wis.) Community Hospital, and the Sheltered Workshop. He retired in 1979 and moved west to join his daughter’s family as the “branch” manager at their general store and resort in Strawberry, Calif. There he enjoyed fishing in the Stanislaus River and local lakes. He spent many a day playing golf, logging three separate holes-in-one as a scratch golfer. He continued to shoot at or below his age, well into his 80s. Forde and his family moved to New Mexico in 1996. He loved animals, and over the years adopted many strays. He was a member of San Clemente Parish in Los Lunas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; a brother, Arthur; and sisters, Gladys McIntyre and Margaret Forde. He is survived by his daughter, Helen Kerscher; his grandson; three great-granddaughters; a half-brother, Kent Forde; and halfsisters Marti Ricklefs and Barb Forde. He also leaves his favorite therapy cat, Baby, and longtime caregiver, Gloria Nevarez.

SANFORD “LES” FORDE of Los Lunas, N.M., died Oct. 21, 2011, at age 95. Forde excelled in football and baseball at Luther and was inducted into the Luther Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. After graduation, he taught history and coached football for two years in Spring Grove,

FREDERICK HALVERSON of rural Stoddard, Wis., formerly of West Prairie, Wis., and North Branford, Conn., died Nov. 13, 2011, at age 94. After graduation from Luther, he was a Pfeiffer Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore from 1939 to 1943 and was a visiting

HAZEL (HOYT) MARKOVETZ, of Des Moines, Iowa, died Jan. 8, 2012, at age 95. She earned a certificate in education from Luther, and a bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University in 1966. She was a longtime elementary school teacher and retired from the Des Moines Public Schools in 1985. She later worked for 13 years in the business offices of Iowa Methodist Medical Center and the V.A. Medical Center. In retirement she was a private tutor. Markovetz had visited every state in the continental United States, and most of the Canadian Provinces, and made ten trips to Europe, including Scandinavia and the British Isles. For several years she was a “favorite regular” at Lutherlag, and was a friend to many and a lifelong lover of learning. In recent years, when she was unable to attend Lutherlag due to her health, she sent update letters expressing her regrets. In one she wrote, “It would be such a joy to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. I have taken many great classes there. How I hate to miss Paul Gardner’s American Politics class! I never wanted to be a politician, but for many years now I still make sure that from the local level through the national level I am a voter with opinions!” Markovetz was a member of Westkirk Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Dixon; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Markovetz, and her son, Alton.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

scientist at Cambridge University in 1957−58. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, and was a member of the American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, American Physical Society, and Optical Society of America. Halverson started working as a chemist at the American Cyanamid Company Stamford Research Laboratories in 1946 and became a senior research fellow before retiring in 1982. From 1943 until 1946 he was a member of the chemistry faculty at Johns Hopkins. Halverson and his wife, Edith Lynn, enjoyed traveling. They were lovingly committed to his Midwest nephews and their families and in turn were blessed to have been a part of their lives. Halverson was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford for many years, serving as a deacon and elder. He had lived at the home of his nephew, DAVID FELDE ’68, in rural Stoddard for the past three years. He is survived by his nephews David and ROBERT FELDE ’72. He was preceded by his wife, Edith, in 1994; his sisters Inga, Aleda, Helen, and Ruth; and two brothers, Alfred and one in infancy.

EVELYN (THOMPSON) ROGNESS of Hills, Minn., died Nov. 14, 2010, at age 96. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and earned a certificate in education from Luther. She taught in rural schools in Maynard and Knoxville, Iowa. She attended Radio Operators School in Alameda, Calif., and was employed by United Airlines as a radio operator for eight years in Chicago, Boston, and New York. She and her husband, Alfred, lived in Sioux Falls,

M A G A Z I N E

67 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 67

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News S.D., for a number of years and were members of First Lutheran Church. Then they moved to the Rogness farm near Hills and became members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She also worked at Luther Manor in Sioux Falls for several years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred, in 1993; and six brothers, Orvin, Tillman, Floyd, Torvald, Glen, and Earl Thompson. PATRICIA (DARLING) VIEBROCK of Palm Harbor, Fla., died May14, 2011, at age 92. She attended Luther and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1942. She loved her family and her cats and was a donor to the SPCA. She is survived by her sons, John and Charles; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, VERNON VIEBROCK ’37, in 1993.

1940 JOEL REE of Tarpon Springs, Fla., died Aug. 17, 2011, at age 94. He had served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He attended Luther and was a manager for Sherwin-Williams in the Twin Cities. He retired in 1978. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice, in 2009.

1941

Linda Galloway, Carlton Kjos, and Rhonda Abbott; seven grandchildren, including CLINT CAMPBELL ’06; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Eileen Sather. Kjos was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford, in 2005; and two brothers, Stanley Hahn and one in infancy.

tant and associate professor of physics at Brown University prior to joining the UVM physics department in 1960. He was a venerable and gentle man who loved science with his whole heart. He authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters with a focus on acoustics, and especially ultrasound. He did seminal work in ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic radiation pressure. Additionally, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching, and was beloved by his graduate students and colleagues with whom he continued to correspond for many years. He was a fellow in the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and a member of the Acoustical Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, and the National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements, and consultant to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nyborg received the Acoustical Society’s Silver Medal in 1990, and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1996. He received the Distinguished Service Award from Luther in 1996. Nyborg was a deeply religious man who loved God and tried to serve Him. He was active at Community Lutheran Church and in his community, and gave freely and generously to many charities. He loved to sing, and was in a barbershop quartet as a young man and in church choirs for many years thereafter. He is survived by his daughter, Elsa Mondou, and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beth, in 1989.

1946

CHARLOTTE (HAHN) KJOS of Decorah died Feb. 13, 2012, at age 90. Kjos attended Luther, earned a teaching certificate, and taught in several rural Winneshiek County schools. She then became a partner in the family farming operation with her husband, Clifford. An avid flower and vegetable gardener, Kjos was also a fantastic cook and welcomed all to her table. She demonstrated her love for education by encouraging her children to read and pursue higher education, and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Madison Lutheran Church. Kjos is survived by her children, CHERYL (KJOS) CAMPBELL ’70,

EDWARD JOHN KLOSTERBOER of Decorah died Oct. 28, 2011, of Parkinson’s disease at age 88. In the fall of 1942, he enrolled at Luther and played football and basketball, lettering in football as a freshman. He enlisted in the U.S. Army that winter and served during World War II in North Africa and in Salerno and Anzio, Italy. Klosterboer was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts. He was county recorder for Grundy County for 11 years. He and his wife, FLORENE (WALTER) KLOSTERBOER ’48, purchased the bowling alley in New Hampton, Iowa, and a few years later he began managing the bowling alley and recreation center in Luther’s Centennial Union. Throughout his working career, Klosterboer held “moonlight” jobs such as detasseling corn and mowing lawns. He also managed a swimming pool and concession stand, and sold monuments. He retired in 1985 after 13 years as a revenue agent for the State of Iowa. In later years, he and his wife enjoyed wintering in Florida. He was a longtime member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and had served the congregation in many capacities. He is survived by his wife, Flo; two sons, JAMES KLOSTERBOER ’71 and John Klosterboer; a daughter, Lisa Klosterboer; four grandchildren, including JESSE KLOSTERBOER ’01, SARA KLOSTERBOER ’03, and ELI KLOSTERBOER ’15; a great-grandson; and siblings Vernon Klosterboer and Dorothy Westerman. He was preceded in death by siblings Harlan Klosterboer and IvaDean Weckerly.

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

1945 WESLEY NYBORG of Burlington, Vt., died Sept. 24, 2011, at age 94. He was professor emeritus of physics at the University of Vermont. Nyborg’s childhood was spent on a farm near Ruthven, Iowa, before electricity and cars were generally available, with plow horses, a one-room schoolhouse and family sing-a-longs at the piano for company and comfort. At Luther, he was introduced to physics, which became his lifelong intellectual pursuit. He earned a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University in 1947, and was assis-

1947

A L U M N I

SHIRLEY MOE POSSON of Decorah died Jan. 4, 2012, at age 86. She was born in Chicago. When she was six months old, her mother died suddenly and Posson was raised by her aunt and uncle, Alice and Chester Posson. She graduated magna cum laude from Luther with majors in physical education and social science, and a minor in education. Posson and classmate ALYCE (HANSON) BERNATZ ’47 convinced Coach HAMLET PETERSON ’22 and Myrtle Stokke of the need for a physical education major for women, and became the first of many Luther women to graduate with this major. In addition, she was twice Duchess at Luther, a charter member of Nordic Choir, and president of the Women’s Recreation Association and of the Board of Religious Activities. She then taught physical education at Luther for the next school year. She moved to Wheaton, Ill., and taught health and physical education in elementary, junior, and senior high schools. She did graduate work at the University of Colorado−Boulder, and earned a master’s degree in health and physical education at the University of Iowa in 1955. She became an instructor and professor of physical education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In 1960, she returned to teach at Luther for a year before joining the staff at the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a teaching assistant. In 1963 she returned to UNI as a hall director, counselor, and adviser for five years. She was an assistant professor at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., for three years, and in 1971, she became community service officer for the Palatine (Ill.) Police Department for four years. Posson was a counselorin-training at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., and earned a certificate of completion in 1976 to become a counselor, trainer, supervisor, and program manager in the hospital’s Substance Abuse

68 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 68

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News Treatment Programs. She developed programs for senior citizen substance abusers and treatment for substance abusers, family members, and eating disorders. She also helped found a daycare center for the elderly. In 1979, she attended the Midwest Institute of Alcohol Studies at the University of Wisconsin. She became a Certified Illinois Alcoholism Counselor in 1981 and Certified Senior Addictions Counselor in 1986. She returned to Decorah in 1986 and worked at the Northeast Iowa Mental Health Center as a counselor and supervisor. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Decorah, where she was active in circle, choir, Sunday school, councils and boards, lay minister, and Stephen’s ministry, and was a prayer chain leader. She was proud to be a more-than-40-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous. In Decorah she was involved in organizations including Luther College Woman’s Club, West Side Study Club, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum as a docent, and Elderhostel as a woodcarving teacher. She was on the board of the Aase Haugen Home and was a member of Oneota Golf and Country Club. She was also a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. She is survived by her sister, LOIS (MOE) JACOBSEN ’43; her cousin, DOROTHY (POSSON) HILL ’51; and two brothers, A. LAURANCE MOE ’53 and Paul Moe. She was preceded in death by brothers William Moe Jr. and Arthur Moe. PAUL THOMPSON of Prescott, Ariz., died Sept. 13, 2011, at age 85. His studies at Luther were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He played baseball and basketball at Luther and returned to graduate after the war. He worked in banking, and owned an income tax business in Minnesota before retiring to the Southwest, eventually making his home in Prescott. He was an avid sports fan. He is survived by his wife, Wanda; four children; ten grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

1948 ROGER GRINDELAND of Ames, Iowa, died Dec. 3, 2011, at age 89. After graduating from Decorah High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, spending three years in the South Pacific during World

South Pacific during World War II. Following the war, he graduated from Luther. Hansen had various jobs in Iowa and Wisconsin before moving to Fargo, N.D., where he was employed with Gunkelman Seed and Chemical Co. He later moved to White Bear Lake, Minn., where he worked for Chipman Chemical Co. In 1967, he formed the company Aaro Films and made three movies, North American Safari ‘68’, Wilderness Calling, and Trail to Alaska. After fulfilling his dream of producing these movies, he formed his own seed and chemical business, AgCom. He later co-founded and was the executive director of the Minnesota Association of Farmers, Landowners, and Sportsmen. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hired Hansen to a newly created position, the citizen participation coordinator (ombudsman). He retired after nine years with the DNR. Throughout his life he enjoyed the outdoors and his many friends. In 2003, he and his wife, ROSALIE (DAHLE) HANSEN ’47, moved to Mitchell and were members of Resurrection Lutheran Church, where their son, John, is pastor. Hansen is survived by his wife, Rosalie; his children Kathryn Courtney and John Hansen; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Marian Majerle. Hansen was preceded in death by his daughter, PAULA JEAN HANSENASMUS ’71; a brother, PHILIP HANSEN ’49; and his father, HAROLD HANSEN ’17.

War II. He attended Luther on the G.I. Bill, and graduated from Iowa State College (now ISU), majoring in farm operations. Grindeland worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 30 years, devoting the majority of his time to agronomy, and also worked in genetics. He loved sports, especially baseball, and was a staunch Chicago Cubs fan. Grindeland honed his own skills by playing horseshoes and participating in the agronomy golf and bowling leagues. He was a longtime member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, American Legion Post No. 37, and the ISU Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife, Naomi; three children, including GARY GRINDELAND ’76; four grandchildren, a great-grandchild; and a sister. He was preceded in death by a brother, HARRY GRINDELAND ’49.

1949

PAUL OSBURN HANSEN of Mitchell, S.D., died Jan. 4, 2012, at age 88. Upon graduating from high school, he went to work for Bell Telephone Co. in northern Minnesota, as a lineman. He was recruited by the FBI and moved to Washington, D.C., as an assistant laboratory aide in the Sound and Electric Division. Hansen was always proud to say that he was on a first-name basis with director J. Edgar Hoover. One of Hansen’s responsibilities was to check for wire tapping in Hoover’s office and personal residence. Hansen resigned from the FBI in 1942 after being drafted into the U.S. Navy. Hansen was an Aviation Ordnance Man Second Class and served in California, and Saipan in the

L U T H E R

DALE HAUGEN of Rochester, Minn., died Dec. 7, 2011, at age 85. Following graduation from high school, he served during World War II in the U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman from 1943 to 1946, spending two years in the South Pacific. After graduating from Luther, he earned a master’s degree in school administration from the University of Iowa in 1953. Additional graduate studies included a specialist’s degree equivalency at Winona State University and studies at the Uni-

A L U M N I

versity of Minnesota. He was a teacher and coach at New Albin, Iowa, from 1949 to 1951. From 1951 to 1967, he served as junior high school principal and senior principal in Chatfield, Minn., and high school counselor from 1967 until 1969. Then he became student services coordinator at the Rochester Area Vocational-Technical Institute, retiring in 1987. Active in many community and educational organizations, he was a life member of the National Education Association, a 50-year member of Phi Delta Kappa, and a longtime member of the Minnesota Education Association, serving on the delegate assembly for ten years. He was a longtime member of Chatfield Lutheran Church where he served as a choir member, Sunday school superintendent, and men’s club and student scholarship committee member. He was a life member of the American Legion and the VFW, serving as a post adjutant for American Legion Post No. 197 for ten years. He is survived by his wife, Ione; two daughters, Kathryn Hawk and Patricia Reiland; a sister, Mae Ellestad; eight grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a brother, Omar.

OTIS TWEDT JR. of Story City, Iowa, died Feb. 12, 2011, at age 84. After graduating from Luther, he was employed by Ames In-Cross. He joined the staff at the Iowa Department of Transportation in 1955 as a draftsman in road design, and was proud to have worked on the design of the signature arch bridge over “the cut” on State Highway 52 in Decorah. He retired in 1988. He was a lifelong member of Bergen Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa, and enjoyed stamp and coin collecting, recording for weddings, and working with computers. Otis is survived by his wife, Luella, and a brother, Keith.

M A G A Z I N E

69 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 69

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News 1950

ELEANOR (JOHNSON) KLUNGTVEDT of Rushford, Minn., died Jan. 11, 2012, at age 85. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business education from Luther and a master’s degree in counseling from Winona State University in 1970. She taught school at Alma, Wis., Mabel and Peterson, Minn., and Winona Vo-Tech. She taught business, typing, accounting and Norwegian and had a love for music, playing guitar and accordion and singing. She was part of her family band, The Country Melodies. Klungtvedt was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and WELCA in Peterson, Minn. She is survived by two sons, Kevin Klungtvedt and Kerry Klungtvedt; two grandchildren, Kate and JOHN KLUNGTVEDT ’13; and a brother, Glen Johnson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orrin.

MYRON “BUD” LARSEN JR. of Sioux Falls, S.D., died suddenly on Nov. 13, 2011, at age 85, after his daily afternoon walk. As a high school senior in 1944, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Navy and left for boot camp the day after graduation to serve two years on the USS Natrona during World War II. After graduating from Luther, he attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., for a year. He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, and earned a degree in pharmacy in 1956. He worked as a pharmacist in Yankton, Huron, McLaughlin, Sioux Falls, Madison, Brandon, and Redfield, S.D. After retiring, Larsen lived in Dell Rapids, S.D., and Sioux

Falls. He enjoyed attending yearly reunions with USS Natrona Navy buddies and singing with Mandskor and many church choirs. He loved his Lord and Savior and devoted much time to studying scripture and prayer. He is survived by his children, Judith Peterson, STEVE LARSEN ’81, and John Larsen; eight grandchildren; and a greatgranddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, in 2006; his father, MYRON LARSEN SR. ’19; and his grandfather, CHRISTIAN LARSEN, Luther class of 1883.

39 papers in top-level research journals, many of them written with former colleague Robert Cameron. He was a recognized researcher in the fields of complex analysis and mathematical physics, and spoke at conferences throughout the world. Storvick was particularly active in service to the School of Mathematics and University of Minnesota. He served as associate head of the School of Mathematics from 1964 to 1970, and as associate dean of the Institute of Technology (now College of Science and Engineering) from 1979 to 1983, and from 1993 to 1994. He served as acting director of the Gray Fresh Water Biological Institute from 1989 to 90. Storvick retired in 2004. He was a member of Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church, where he sang bass in the choir and served on various committees and as president of the congregation. He loved fishing and time with his family at their Crane Lake cabin. Storvick received the Distinguished Service Award from Luther in 1976. He is survived by his wife, SYLVIA (WISNESS) STORVICK ’52; children KRISTIN STORVICK ’76, JONATHAN STORVICK ’78, and SARAH (STORVICK) KUNAU ’85; six grandchildren, including PETER STORVICK ’14; a brother, OLIN STORVICK ’49; and sisters ROSALIE (STORVICK) MILLER ’53 and Sonja Hagestuen. He was preceded in death by his father, ROY STORVICK ’21.

1951 AGNES L. (HANSON) BENNETT of Turlock, Calif., died Oct. 5, 2011, at age 82. Following graduation from Luther, she earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan and worked at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. In 1961, she joined the staff at California State UniversityStanislaus as head catalog librarian, retiring in 1991. She belonged to the Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Turlock and enjoyed reading. She is survived by two children, Robert D. Bennett Jr. and Signe Ericks, and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 2005; a sister; and two brothers.

DAVID STORVICK of Minneapolis, died Nov. 5, 2011, at age 82. He earned a master’s degree in mathematics in 1952 and a doctorate in 1956, both from the University of Michigan. After two years at Iowa State University, Storvick joined the University of Minnesota Department of Mathematics in 1957 as assistant professor. He spent the rest of his career at Minnesota, where he was promoted to associate professor in 1961 and to full professor in 1966. He enjoyed three sabbaticals, during which he visited the University of Wisconsin, Imperial College in London, and the University of York. During his career, Storvick published

L U T H E R

JOHN OLNEY YLVISAKER of Zumbrota, Minn., died Jan. 1, 2012, at age 86. His father, JOHAN FRITJOF YLVISAKER ’16, was a missionary in South Africa, where John was born. His mother died when he was very young, and Ylvisaker and his father returned to the United States to live in Zumbrota when John was 13 years old. After graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served in the South Pacific Theatre of Operations during World War II. After his honorable discharge he enrolled at Luther. Ylvisaker taught

A L U M N I

chemistry and physics in Elbow Lake and in Princeton, Minn., before joining the faculty in Zumbrota in 1957. He earned a master’s degree in chemistry from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1964. He retired from teaching in 1988, and was active in his community, belonging to the 65-50 Club, Lions Club, and the American Legion Post, and serving as a scoutmaster for 11 years. He was a member of United Redeemer Lutheran Church. Ylvisaker enjoyed camping, canoeing, tinkering and repairs around the house, feeding the birds, spending time with his grandchildren, and especially being part of the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He is survived by his wife, Murial “Dolly”; children Kent Ylvisaker, Eric Ylvisaker, JEAN (YLVISAKER) OHMAN ’80, and Rolf Ylvisaker; six grandchildren, including ANYA SMITH ’06; two great-great granddaughters; and a sister, RUTH YLVISAKER ’48. John was preceded in death by a son, Jon; sisters, Rebecca Ylvisaker and HELOISE (YLVISAKER) BLANCHAR ’49; his father, JOHAN FRITJOF YLVISAKER ’16; and his grandfather, ANDREAS CHRISTIAN YLVISAKER, Luther class of 1881.

1952

ETHEL (LIENING) ZELLMER of Richmond, Va., died Jan. 1, 2012, at age 82. She graduated from Lutheran Hospital School for Nurses in Moline, Ill., as a registered nurse, and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Luther. She lived in Maywood and Elmhurst, Ill., Milwaukee, San Francisco, Ramsey, N.J., Austin, Texas, and Richmond. She is survived by her husband, Dean; three children, Steven, Cynthia, and Gretchen; two step-grandchildren; and two sisters, Elaine Hanson and Ruth Tyrrell. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca.

M A G A Z I N E

70 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 70

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News 1953

ANITA MARIE (FLINT) LENZ of Stoddard, Wis., died Nov. 26, 2011, at age 80. She graduated from Luther then earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin−Madison in 1958. She and her husband, Richard Lenz, moved to Tucson, Ariz., to pursue their social work careers. They returned to Wisconsin, living in La Crosse for a short time, then living most of their lives in Stoddard. Lenz dedicated her working life to providing counseling and advocacy services to children and their families. She is remembered for her love of her family, compassionate service to children and their families, and her love of the land and gardening, and all things antique. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2005.

1954

RONALD DEAN EGELAND of Borrego Springs, Calif., and formerly of Ames and Huxley, Iowa, died April 30, 2011, at age 81. He had a lifelong interest and love for art and music. He studied fine arts and business administration at Waldorf College and Luther. Following a break in his education in 1951, he served in the U.S. Army, then completed his degree and began a career as a right-of-way agent for the Iowa Department of Transportation. He held that post for 31 years. Egeland was also a musician and played trumpet in several bands, including his own. After retirement, he moved to Bor-

rego Springs to join his sister in her real estate firm as a broker. He is survived by his sister, Maxine Nelson.

Luther and became a certified public accountant. He worked for 32 years as an accountant for four construction-related firms. In retirement he worked as a financial consultant for nonprofit organizations and as a wellness consultant. His interests included Reiki (natural healing energy), Dances of Universal Peace, Cymatherapy (sound therapy), and the International Sound Therapy Association. He was a co-researcher and author of a project presented at the International Conference on Electromagnetic Fields in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2007, and later published in EHE Magazine. In his later years he was proud of his trademark ponytail. He married and later was divorced from Nancy Enge. They had three children, MARK ENGE ’79, Rebecca McMullen, and Reuben Enge. He is also survived by his wife, Marie Dahle; stepsons, Brian Ekblad and Steven Ekblad; 13 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by three siblings: Chuck and Roger Enge, and Sandra Whittaker.

MARGERY (CARLSON) LURNDAHL of Centuria, Wis., died Oct. 19, 2011, after a lengthy illness. She attended Luther and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin−Eau Claire in 1956. She began her teaching career in Robbinsdale, Minn., as a first-grade teacher. She became a full-time homemaker when she and her husband, Donald, adopted their daughter, Pamela, and two years later, their son, Jeffrey. She was a devoted wife and mother, volunteering in her children’s schools and as a Girl Scout leader. She and the family traveled through Donald’s work as an insurance agent and for pleasure. One of her favorite places was the north shore of Lake Superior. After Donald’s death she worked at the UW−Eau Claire library, a Christian bookstore, a women’s clothing store, and then retired from a customer service position at Sears. She moved to Clear Lake, Wis., in 2006 to be closer to family, and then to Sophie’s Manor Assisted Living Facility in Centuria in 2009. Lurndahl is survived by her children, Pamela Wielinski and Jeffrey Lurndahl; five grandchildren; and her siblings, Ruth Olsen and Ramert Carlson.

1956

ELIZABETH ANN (LARSON) LACKORE of Willmar, Minn., died Nov. 9, 2011, at age 77. She attended Luther. She and her husband, LEONARD LACKORE ’55, lived in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Florida before settling in Willmar in 1971. In retirement, they enjoyed winters in Tucson, Ariz. Known as “Betts,” she was a caring and giving person, with a love of life. She enjoyed music, the arts, travel, learning, and helping others. She earned a degree at St. Cloud State University in 1988. Lackore was on the Barn Theatre board, including serving as president when the theatre moved from the barn building to its current location. She also enjoyed acting in plays. She served many years on the Rice Hospital Auxiliary and the Concert Series board and served as president of both of those organizations. She

1955

JOHN LEONARD ENGE of Norcross, Ga., died Dec. 3, 2011, at age 78. He earned a degree in business at

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Bethel Lutheran Church, and many other organizations. She was an avid supporter of Safe Avenues (Shelter House), Willmar Public Schools, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and others, and wrote many letters to the editor over the years. She is survived by two daughters, Judith Lackore Monroe and Ramona Lackore; five grandchildren; and a brother, C.W. “Jim” Larson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Len, in 2008; and a sister, Virginia Nelson. MARY ELLEN SATHER of Austin, Texas, died of cancer on Oct. 11, 2010, at age 75. She earned a certificate in education from Luther and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University. Sather taught in California and Minnesota for many years, and lived in New Hampshire and Colorado before moving to Austin 12 years ago. She is survived by five children, Tamara, Tim, Sarah, Dan, and Maren; and two sisters, including MARJORIE (SATHER) NELSON ’56.

1959

ARTHUR LEROY HOIUM of Fargo, N.D., died Dec. 15, 2011, at age 81. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951, serving on two ships during the Korean War and until 1955. He graduated from Luther and then earned a bachelor of divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained into the Lutheran ministry of the American Lutheran Church in 1963. Hoium attended the Bethel Bible Series in Madison, Wis., in 1966, and later earned a master’s degree and doctorate. He served parishes in Osnabrock, Tower City, Buffalo, and Bottineau, N.D.; Revillo and Freeman, S.D.; and Marietta and Delavan, Minn. He retired in 1999, and he and his wife, ESTHER (SCHOENECKER) HOIUM

M A G A Z I N E

71 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 71

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News ’55, moved to Fargo where they were members of First Lutheran Church. In retirement he served as an interim pastor for parishes in Fargo, Walle, Grand Forks, Harwood, Lidgerwood, and Hankinson, N.D. He is survived by his wife, Esther; children Joanna Schwindt, Paul Hoium, and David Hoium; nine grandchildren; and siblings Donald Hoium, Sterling Hoium, and Ann Marie Hoium. C. DAVID JACOBSON of Dodgeville, Wis., died Aug. 21, 2011, at age 83. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 before graduating from Luther. He earned a bachelor of divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 1963. Jacobson served God and others in the ministry at congregations in Viroqua, Rome, Mineral Point, and Dodgeville, Wis. He enjoyed reading, writing, music, watching the Milwaukee Brewers, and purchasing lemonade from every children’s stand he ever encountered. He is survived by his wife, Jacqualine; four children, Laurie Deerfield, Brian Jacobson, GWEN (JACOBSON) FINLEY ’86, and Heidi Sojkowski; three grandchildren; and siblings Arla Bakken, Howard Jacobson, and Donald Jacobson. He was preceded in death by his siblings Paul and Ruth.

1960

ance in Stamford, Conn., where he was executive vice president and COO. He served as president and CEO of IdeaLife Insurance Co., and president and CEO of Horizons, LLC, and was an independent consultant for a few years. He was managing director and president of U.S. Living Benefits, LLC, from 1997 until 2007, when he became consulting actuary for the company. He was involved in the communities where he lived and served many organizations, including the W. Ogden Booker Chorale, the New York Mission Society, the United Way, and the Phyllis Wheatly Community Center in Minneapolis. He established the J.W. and Lucille Ylvisaker Endowed Scholarship at Luther College in 1985 in honor of his parents. He was a life member of Luther’s President’s Council, and was a member of Heritage Club. Ylvisaker served on the Luther College Board of Regents from 1990 to 2003. He is survived by his life partner, Grace Eide, and his sister, MARTHA (YLVISAKER) LIMBURG ’56, and her husband, JAMES LIMBURG ’56. He was preceded in death by his parents, J.W. YLVISAKER ’21 and Lucille Ylvisaker, and his grandfather, JOHANNES THORBJORNSEN YLVISAKER, Luther class of 1874.

Luther, Davis sang in Nordic Choir and was a Messiah soloist. He attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and transferred to Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif. He was ordained in 1966 and served a congregation near Brenham, Texas, until 1969, when he decided to complete clinical pastoral education at California and Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. He was certified in 1970 and was called to be chaplain at the Monroe (Wash.) Reformatory. Leaving prison work, Davis founded Pacific Northwest Yokefellows and became the executive director of an agency in Seattle and Lynnwood, Wash., that provided care for individuals in times of transition. In 1986, he launched Counseling Associates. He earned a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral counseling from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1987. His passion was counseling. As a part of that passion, he began a “Men’s Gathering” and conducted many retreats for this group to work through issues common to men. He later founded the Boy’s Project. He and his wife, NANCY (JOHNSON) DAVIS ’63, moved to Woodinville, where they raised their two children. They were active members of First Lutheran Church, and he helped during pastoral vacancies at First Lutheran as well as doing interim ministry in other congregations. Davis enjoyed his children and grandchildren, travel, and time with his wife at their condo in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his son, Paul Davis; two grandchildren; his sister, Betty Mooney; and stepfather, Robert Wielage. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara.

1962

1964 JAMES W. YLVISAKER of New Canaan, Conn., died Nov. 22, 2011, at age 73, in Rochester, Minn., where he was being treated for cancer. He grew up in Minneapolis and Decorah, where his father, J.W. YLVISAKER ’21 served as president of Luther from 1948 to 1962. After graduating from Luther, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. Ylvisaker then joined the actuarial department of North American Life and Casualty Insurance in Minneapolis. He was also employed by IDS Insurance in Minneapolis as an associate actuary, and by Cologne Reinsur-

CHARLES RONALD DAVIS of Woodinville, Wash., died Dec. 5, 2011, at age 71 after battling cancer for more than four years. Davis’s father died when Davis was just eight years old, and he and his sister, Betty, were raised by their mother. Davis found a spiritual home at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in San Diego, where he became active in ministry and sang in the choir. At age 16, he felt God’s call to prepare for the ministry. Luther choir director, WESTON NOBLE ’43, was present while Davis was singing a solo with the church choir and encouraged him to attend Luther. At

ROBERT PHILIP JOHNSON of Janesville, Wis., died Oct. 20, 2011, at age 69. He was a proud graduate of Luther, and lived three years in Nigeria while serving with the Peace Corps. He earned a master’s degree

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

in counseling from the University of Wisconsin−Stout in 1968, and had a long, happy career as a guidance counselor at Craig High School. Johnson was an Eagle Scout, a Cub master, and scout leader of Troop 402. He lived to sing and happily rounded out the tenor section of the Sandborn Singers and Choral Union. He was an avid skier and played tennis in the Moose League. He worked tirelessly as a member of Golden Kiwanis, a Destination Imagination Challenge Master, and a Red Cross disaster relief volunteer. He was happiest on a hiking trail and conquered the Appalachian Trail in 2008 and the Foothills Trail in 2010. He was a wonderful dad, loving husband, and devoted friend. He is survived by his wife, Carol; four children, Laura, Ed, Craig, and Kendra; five grandchildren; a sister, Anne; and his hiking friends, Kurt, Les, and Jimbo.

1966

LEON HOLTAN of Rochester, Minn., died Jan. 4, 2012, at age 95. After graduating from Kasson High School and Kasson Normal Training, he taught in a one-room rural school for seven years. He then farmed for several years, the third generation to operate the family farm. At the age of 31, with a growing family, he was called to be a pastor. He attended St. Olaf College, graduated from Luther Seminary, and was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1952. During his ministry, he served congregations in Clinton and Lanesboro, Minn., and Plano, Ill. While in Lanesboro, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Luther. In retirement he served as interim pastor for several congregations in southeast Minnesota. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and spoke the language fluently. He often used his Norwegian skills to conduct church services, translate church history, and teach community education classes. He is survived by three children, MARTHA

72 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 72

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News (HOLTAN) PERBIX ’65, Paul Holtan, and CAROL (HOLTAN) LUCIDO ’74; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Bernice Crouch and Marion Lund. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; and a son, LESLIE HOLTAN ’64; three brothers; and four sisters.

grandchildren; and siblings Wayne Betts and Verna Kruse. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, and sisters Mavis Willson and Norma Cathline Betts.

LYNN WOGEN of St. Paul, Minn., died Oct. 20, 2011, at age 67, after a courageous battle with ALS. He earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1973. He retired after 34 years of teaching in St. Paul Public Schools. In retirement he enjoyed biking, driving school buses, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Lois; children Eric Wogen, KIRSTEN (WOGEN) HERKENHOFF ’98, and Adam Wogen; six grandchildren; and siblings AUDREY (WOGEN) ROBER ’61, WARREN WOGEN ’65, LORENE (WOGEN) HANSON ’69, Maynard Wogen, and Donna Carolus. He was preceded in death by his sisters Nylene and LuAnn.

VICTORIA “VICKY” (HESSELBACHER) EHRLER of Galena, Ill., died March 8, 2011, at age 64. She was an elementary school reading teacher in the Scales Mound School District. She was preceded in death by her husband, James.

1967

AUDELL (BETTS) MATSON, of St. Paul, Minn., died Feb. 27, 2012, at age 93. She earned a certificate in education from Luther in 1938, then returned to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1967. Matson taught school for 31 years at Maynard, Bondurant, and Cresco, Iowa, schools; and in Casper, Wyo., and Harmony, Minn. She was a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (Lydia Circle and ALCW of Granger); and the American Legion Auxiliary in Harmony. She lived her last 12 years in Briar Cliff Manor, an unassisted living apartment in Mahtomedi. In November 2011, she moved to New Harmony Care Center in St. Paul. She is survived by four children, Gordon Matson, Gerri Matson, Patricia Bigalk, and LeAndra Matson; nine grandchildren; five great-

landerson; and nine great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, ELMER ULLAND ’32.

1970

1968

ELISE (MULLER) KRUEGER of Limestone, Maine, died from cancer on Jan. 26, 2012, at age 61. She is survived by her husband, ROGER KRUEGER ’70, and a daughter, Bonnie Krueger.

1972 TIMOTHY JON CRAPP of Waukon, Iowa, died Nov. 10, 2011, at age 61. He earned a degree in business from Luther. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and earned the rank of second lieutenant. Following his discharge, he worked as a logger. He is survived by his mother, Carol Crapp; a son, ERIC CRAPP ’95; two brothers, MICHAEL CRAPP ’71 and Daniel Crapp; and a sister, Jane Cassidy. He was preceded in death by his wife, EDITH (SICKLES) CRAPP ’72, in 2006, and his father, Leo.

LINDA MARIE ULLAND of Pequot Lakes, Minn., died Dec. 26, 2011, at age 65, following an extended battle with cancer. Ulland worked as a reporter for newspapers in Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska, before moving to San Francisco, where she worked for the California Coastal Commission. She earned a master’s degree in political science (urban policy and administration) from San Francisco State University and worked for Bechtel Corp. in San Francisco as an environmental engineer and for Weston Solutions in Albuquerque, N.M., where she specialized in nuclear waste issues. Later, she returned to Minnesota and served as regional manager for Pollution Control before joining the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science’s Sustainable Development Partnership. She was active in the Whitefish Lions Club, National Nuclear Society, the Paul Bunyan Byway Association, Star Lake Association, Mastocytosis Society, and Star Lake Wilderness Camp, and worked on Ideal Township’s 100th anniversary celebration. Ulland enjoyed world travel, opera, and her cats. But most of all, she enjoyed the company of many friends in the Lakes area, and all across the United States, Europe, and Norway. She is survived by a brother, RICHARD ULLAND ’64; a niece, Kari Makoutz; nephews HANS ULLAND ’91 and Erik Ul-

L U T H E R

JOHN SEVERSON of Phoenix, Ariz., died Oct. 25, 2011, at age 60. Severson lived in several places in the United States while working as a freelance photographer and as a photographer for Gannett Newspapers. He married Leslie Hurst on Sanibel Island in 1997. Severson achieved many awards for his work, and his friends and family will treasure the photos and the memories they bring. He will be greatly missed as a quiet, sensitive, caring friend and a loving son, uncle, and brother. He is survived by his siblings Stanley Severson, Carol Severson, Ellen Martin, and Kathryn Nygaard. He was preceded in death by a sister, Marilyn.

liver transplant in 1987, Kates began to consider studying theology. In the fall of 2000, she enrolled in the Center for Community Transformation at the Chicago Theological Seminary. The capstone of her study was an internship at the Primera Iglesia Congregacional de Chicago, in Humboldt Park. This internship defined her interest in social justice, equity in education, and community engagement. Proud of her AfricanPuerto Rican heritage, Kates established an annual scholarship in her mother’s name at Trinity United Church of Christ. She earned a master’s degree in divinity in 2002 and served as chaplain at the University of Illinois Medical Center and as a member of the hospice ministry at Trinity United Church of Christ. A strong advocate for education, she was a reserve teacher for the Chicago Public Schools and a motivational speaker for the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois. Her mission was to raise the awareness of organ donation among African Americans. In 2003 she became the co-founder and co-owner of the Beverly Pagoda Martial Arts Academy with her husband, KENNETH L. KATES SR. ’73, and their son, Kenneth Jr. Anyone who encountered her was immediately captured by her generosity, gracious hospitality, intellect, and dynamic personality. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her son, Kenneth L. Kates Jr.; and siblings Aura Wharton-Beck, Donald E. Wharton, Jr., and Lloyd Wharton. Kates was preceded in death by her parents, Donald E. Wharton Sr. and Edith Brinn Wharton.

1974

1973 CARMEN WHARTON KATES of Chicago, died Nov. 13, 2011, at age 57. She attended Luther and completed a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle in 1984. An early interest in computers led her to become a programmer analyst at Baxter Travenol Laboratories and Kemper Insurance. After receiving a

A L U M N I

MIKE GERBER of Rochester, Minn., died Jan. 6, 2012, at age 59. He attended Luther, Mankato State University, and Southwest State University, majoring in English literature. Following college, he worked at the Citizens Action Council in Zumbrota, Minn., and was the director of the Community

M A G A Z I N E

73 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 73

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News Action Program for Olmsted County for 15 years. He was an avid sports fan, and often claimed he had won many bets that have yet to be paid. He was a talented writer of short stories and poetry. His interest in politics could always create a lively discussion. He is survived by his wife, Val; his father, Norbert; his stepmother, Helen; brothers Dennis, Doug, and Don; and his darling little dog and companion, Abbey Jo. He was preceded in death by his mother, Maxine, and his dog, Kirby Jo.

1979

Former Faculty

Natalie Rutherford Pache; daughters Rayne, Deja, and Yale Rutherford, Kirsten Lyles-Shaver, Summer Pennerman, and Syvonia Pennerman; grandson Joshua Lyles; brothers Derek, Ian, Willard, and Bradley Rutherford; sisters Deidre Clarke, Ernestine Kelly, and Garnell Cooper; and adopted mother Casscine Grant-Kinnear.

ANGELINE JACOBSON, professor and reference librarian emerita, died Dec. 1, 2011, at age 101. Following the death of her mother when she was nine years old, she moved from her home in Milwaukee to Stone Bank, Wis., where she lived with her aunt and uncles, continuing her education at the Scandinavian Lutheran Academy (later Central Wisconsin College). She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1931 from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with a major in history. During the Great Depression, she taught high school social studies in Finlayson and Cottonwood, Minn., and Marengo, Ill. She then became the high school librarian in Beaver Dam, Wis., and discovered a great love for the vocation. She enrolled in the University of Michigan, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science. Jacobson was appointed to the Luther faculty in 1951, and served as reference librarian in Koren and Preus libraries until her retirement as a professor emerita in 1976. She researched Native American literature throughout the Southwest. Jacobson was a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, a member of Decorah’s Travel Club and the Ridge Road Group as an early homeowner in that neighborhood, and was a life member of the Decorah Area Branch of the American Association of University Women. In 1969 Jacobson decided to donate her body to the Deeded Body Program at the Department of Anatomy at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. She is survived by her cousins Naomi Winter and Margaret Balkman and her godchild, Tricia Green.

1994

TIMOTHY JAMES TWITO of Northfield, Minn., died Dec. 24, 2011, at age 54. He earned a medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1984. After an internship at Hennepin County Medical Center, he attended Yale University for three years as a psychiatry resident. Twito practiced general psychiatry for nearly 25 years, first at Park Nicollet Clinic in Burnsville, Minn., and the last ten years at Allina Medical Clinic in Northfield. He had a deep and abiding love of literature, writing, and nature, and had participated in a writing group for nearly 20 years. His kindness, intelligence, humor, and devotion to family and friends will be remembered always. He is survived by his wife, Deb; children Sam, Isaac, Emma, Chris, and Sarah; his parents, Donald and Dominy; and his siblings, Eric Twito, JULIE (TWITO) GERGEN ’82, Keith Twito, and Sarah Crain.

1984 GREGORY ERNEST RUTHERFORD of Winton Heights, Nassau, Bahamas, died Nov. 13, 2011, at age 51. He had been the general manager of the Häagen-Dazs and Lickety Split, Ltd., chains. Memories of his life will forever be cherished by his parents, Ernest and Katrina Rutherford; his former wife,

AMNEY (AXMEAR) POPE of North English, Iowa, died after a short battle with cancer on Dec. 6, 2011, at age 39. A talented studentathlete at English Valleys High School, she was a state qualifier in cross country, was all-conference in basketball, and earned all-state honors in softball. She was a student nurse at Concordia Language Villages Spanish camp in Bemidji, Minn. Pope played softball at Luther and graduated with a nursing degree. She worked as a nurse at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, as donation coordinator at the Iowa Donor Network, and as a hospice nurse at Hospice of Compassion before joining her husband, Lynn, in their farm operation. She will be remembered as a devoted mother, the family photographer, and a caregiver. Pope was a devoted and active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millersburg, where she was an organist and taught Sunday school. She is survived by her husband, Lynn; a daughter, Lauren; her parents, Joe’d and Karen Axmear; her siblings, Will, Jesse, and Ellen; and her grandmother, Luella Brockshus. She was preceded in death by a brother, Chad, in infancy.

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

ORVILLE RUNNING, professor emeritus of art/college artist, died Feb. 6, 2012, at age 101 in Decorah. Born Sept. 19, 1910, in Veblen, S.D., he was the first of five sons of Julia Sophia Olson, a musician and teacher, and Alfred Sigvart Running, a Lutheran pastor. Because his father was called to serve parishes in various places, Running spent his childhood in Veblen and the Montana towns of Big Sandy and Havre, in Sandpoint, Idaho, and in Zumbrota, Minn., where he graduated from high school in 1927. He enrolled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and though the college offered no studio art courses, he cultivated his artistic talents by drawing charts for science instructors; backdrops for the annual Christmas concert; covers for the student literary magazine; and a map of Northfield, wry commentary included. In 1931, he enrolled at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained a minister of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America in 1934—the same day that he married Marjorie Lorraine Olney. Running accepted a call to Bethlehem Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash., where he served as pastor from 1934 to 1940, then to Christ Lutheran in Chicago, where he served from 1940 to 1946. He took evening classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1946, Running was hired to head Luther’s young art department. In 1950 he earned a master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa. Over the next four decades, he nurtured art and faith in equal measure. Under his guidance as department head, Luther steadily expanded its art curriculum. Running also taught two courses in the Bible department and delivered frequent chapel talks. He was often called on to preach at nearby congregations. While he took great pleasure in painting,

M A G A Z I N E

74 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 74

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Alumni News

drawing, preparing, and sometimes constructing liturgical furnishings for Luther and area churches, he is best known for his woodcuts. Having lived much of his childhood on the prairie, he took special delight in the forms and colors of the trees, bluffs, and waters of Decorah. He also appreciated elegant works of engineers and builders—quarries, bridges, boats, docks. In 1976 he stepped down as head of the art department but for the next decade continued to teach courses in printmaking. For several years, Running’s work hung in the American Embassy in Olso, Norway. His work is in private collections throughout the world (including a large collection displayed in the Nobel Room in Dahl Centennial Union). In 1987 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of fine arts from St. Olaf College. In 2003, a portrait bust in honor of Running was created by MIKE KNUDSON ’76. The work is on display in Luther’s Center for the Arts. Running was a member of President’s Council at Luther. He is survived by four children, MARIT (RUNNING) PUDAS ’58; GEORGE RUNNING ’59; MARJORIE (RUNNING) WHARTON ’66, associate professor of music and French; and Kristi Carlson; eight grandchildren, including PHILIP WHARTON ’90; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Joseph Running and Paul Running. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Arnold Running and Cyrus Running; his first wife, Marjorie, and his second wife, Mildred. The Marjorie Olney Running Memorial Scholarship and the Mildred L. Lund Scholarship are established at Luther. BARTLETT BUTLER, professor emeritus of music, died Jan. 15, 2012, at age 84. He was raised in the Twin Cities, where he was an active church musician from age 15. He graduated from Central High School in 1944, attended Macalester College for a year, and earned a bachelor’s degree in classical languages and humani-

ties, and

BUTLER ’74, Anne Arends, and Paul Butler; and five grandchildren, including SAM DONLAN ’10. He was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Butler, and two brothers, Jack and Theo Butler.

a master’s degree in music history and literature from the University of Minnesota. Butler did additional study in organ and church music at Northwestern University and completed his doctorate in musicology and theory at the University of Illinois. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi. He came to Luther College in 1954 as a sabbatical replacement to teach organ, theory, and German, and to direct the Chapel Choir. With many years of experience as an organist and choir master, he developed new courses at Luther in worship, liturgy, and church music, and directed the Chapel Choir to exemplify the role of choral music in the liturgy. He was then appointed instructor to teach music literature and music history. In this second year he continued directing the choir, but was urged to establish the Luther College Community Orchestra, which was to become Luther’s Symphony Orchestra. An extended pre-doctoral leave included study at the University of Illinois, supported by several fellowships, a full-time appointment as a visiting lecturer in music history, and a year’s residency in Germany. After his return from Europe and completion of the dissertation, Butler gave up the choir. But the break from music-making was brief. He formed the Collegium Musicum and directed the group for 17 years. Shortly before retirement, he produced, along with enthusiastic student involvement, four annual Madrigal Dinners for the holidays. After retirement in 1989, he and his wife, Barbara, remained in Decorah and were active in the Luther community. Butler was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He was a member of Heritage Club and President’s Council at Luther. Butler is survived by his wife, Barbara, three children, DAVID

WARREN BERG, professor emeritus of economics, accounting, and managrment died March 26, 2012, at age 87. He was born in Chicago to Loraine Schwank Berg and Sydney Olaf Berg. He attended Chicago schools and enrolled at Luther in 1942, arriving in the back of a pickup truck from the train station in Calmar. Because of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy that same year and served as lieutenant J.G. aboard the USS LST 896 in the Pacific theater. Following his discharge, he married JAN (REID) BERG ’49, whom he had met during training in Dubuque, Iowa. He returned to Luther where he played trombone in the band and graduated in 1948. He began graduate studies at the University of Iowa, but put his studies on hold to return to Luther as a faculty member. From 1948 until 1988 he taught in the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Management, serving as department head at the time of his retirement. Along the way, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees in accounting from the University of Iowa. Berg was named Outstanding Man in Decorah in 1956 and served as sports information director at Luther from 1950 to 1966, and as president of the national College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) in 1963. In 1985, CoSIDA established the Warren G. Berg Award, presented annually to a college member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of sports information, and who by his or her activities has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. In

L U T H E R

M A G A Z I N E

A L U M N I

1997, Berg was awarded the Scoop Hudgins Lifetime Achievement Award by the AllAmerican Football Foundation. In 1966 he became the first Senior Fulbright Professor of Economics to be sent to the Royal University of Malta, which resulted in a flow of Maltese students to Luther and a book contract for The Historical Dictionary of Malta. In 1984 Berg received an award from the Malta Chamber of Commerce, and in 1988 he received a second Fulbright Award to Malta to teach international business at the Royal University. According to the book Stability and Change: Luther College in Its Second Century, published in 1987, Berg had at that time taught more students than any other professor in Luther’s history. He will be remembered for his love of life, sense of humor, and integrity. Berg was also an avid traveler and reader, collected model trains, had a knack for entertaining babies, and loved all things Norwegian. For more than two decades, he and Jan were directors of Luther’s Scandinavian Institute for teachers from the five Scandinavian countries. For this service they were awarded the St. Olaf Medal from King Olav of Norway. Warren was a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, on the board of directors of Minnesota Public Radio, and was active in the Rotary Club, Sons of Norway, and Symra. He was a member of Heritage Club at Luther. He is survived by his wife, Jan; children PAULA BERG OWEN ’70, KRISTIN (BERG) GILBERT ’72, KARI BERG ’73, Jon Torger Berg, and ERIK BERG ’77; seven grandchildren, including ERICA (BARTH) COTTRELL ’95; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Miller. His life can be summed up by the three words with which he closed every letter, “Soli Deo Gloria.” The Warren G. Berg Economics and Business Scholarship Fund is established at Luther College.

75 2012_spring_LATEST_ALUMNI.EDITED.indd 75

4/17/12 5:04 PM

Endpage

Snapshots from Lutherlags past include (clockwise from left) choir members practicing pitch under Tim Peter ’86, including (front, left) Carole (Knudson) Wendt ’61 and (behind Wendt) Shirley (Klingsheim) Bentdahl ’59; David Roslien ’59 (in hat) leading the popular troll walk (with Wendy [Hillesland] ’80 and David Coe ’80 and Tom Vaaler ’62); and proud pottery-class participants displaying their ceramic creations.

1987: Lutherlag launched Twenty-five years have passed since dozens of families converged on campus for the first Lutherlag—a multiday, multigenerational event that promised a host of learning opportunities and recreational activities. The year was 1987, and the concept was fresh—a “retreat” that offered enriching experiences for children, teens, and adults alike. Founders Robert Shoffner, assistant to the president, and his wife, Beth, directed the event, which attracted hosts Joann (Harr) ’65 and Dick Hemp ’65 (regent emeritus) and more than 115 others spanning in age from four months to 88 years. Inaugural course offerings ranged from the practical (“Using a Spreadsheet at Home”) and the artistic (“So You Want to Be a Wood Carver…”) to the timely (Life after Reagan: Election ’88)—all taught by members of the college’s eclectic faculty. “Having a vacation together as a family but still being able to grow individually was a wonderful way to share Luther College with our children,” reflected participant Mary (Stoneman) Opperman ’78 in that year’s program evaluation. (All three Opperman children, incidentally, went on to graduate from Luther.) Today Lutherlag continues to offer courses on everything from pottery and quilt-making to “hot-button” topics like climate change while providing teens a track of their own (tubing anyone?) and younger children a range of enriching activities. The Tuesday-night Mabe’s pizza party at Phelps Park remains a perennial favorite. “I think Lutherlag signifies something special about Luther and the alumni we send out into the world,” says Kirk Johnson ’82, associate director of alumni relations, who has overseen Lutherlag since 1991. “They’re people genuinely interested in lifelong learning whose special tie to the college and Decorah draws them back year after year.”

L U T H E R

A L U M N I

M A G A Z I N E

76 endpage.indd 76

4/17/12 4:51 PM

Calendar Senior Send-Off

Alumni Council/Class Agents Meeting

Thursday, May 17 Hotel Winneshiek, Decorah

Friday, October 5 Luther

Heritage Club Recognition Dinner

Homecoming Friday, October 5− Sunday, October 7 Luther

Saturday, May 19 Luther

Commencement

Mabe’s Pizza Party

Sunday, May 20 Luther

Monday, May 21−Friday, June 1 Ireland/England Hosts: Jim and Karen Martin-Schramm

Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruise and Reception Sunday, June 10 Excelsior, Minnesota

Norse Athletic Association Golf Outing Monday, June 11 Oneota Golf and Country Club Decorah

Alumni and Friends Reception Tuesday, June 19 Hotel Safari Windhoek, Namibia

Alumni Tour

Friday, July 6-Saturday, July 18 Discover Portugal and Spain on the Camino de Santiago Hosts: Luisa and Peter Forsgren ’82

Sherry Alcock ’82

Nordic Choir Companion Tour

Saturday, October 13 New Belgium Brewery Fort Collins, Colorado

Luther College Lunch Connection

Jane and Rick ’72 Theiler hosted an alumni gathering at their home in Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 18.

Friday, October 19 American Swedish Institute Minneapolis

Norse Athletic Association Golf Outing

Friends of Luther Wrestling Golf Outing

Luther College Lunch Connection

Thursday, July 12 Northfield Golf Club Northfield, Minnesota

Friday, August 10 Jackson Heights Golf Club Jackson Junction, Iowa

Friday, November 9 American Swedish Institute Minneapolis

Lutherlag

Luther College Lunch Connection

Get Down, Give Back Scholarship Benefit

Sunday, July 22−Friday, July 27 Luther

Weston Noble Alumni Choir Reunion and Tour Sunday, July 22− Saturday, Aug. 4 Yosemite National Park and California Coast

Nordic Fest Thursday, July 26− Saturday, July 28 Decorah

Friday, September 14 Windsor Heights Community Center Windsor Heights, Iowa

Luther College Lunch Connection Friday, September 21 American Swedish Institute Minneapolis

Family Weekend Friday, September 21Sunday, September 23 Luther

Friday, November 16 Minneapolis

Luther College Lunch Connection Friday, November 16 Windsor Heights Community Center Windsor Heights, Iowa

Christmas at Luther Performances Thursday, November 29Sunday December 2 Luther

Luther alumni events are open to all alumni and friends of the college, including parents and other family members of graduates and students. Please note that some dates listed are tentative; specific information about upcoming events will be mailed or e-mailed to alumni, friends, and parents who live near the event sites. If you need more information or if you’re interested in planning an event in your area, call the Alumni Office at (800) 225-8664. We’d love to hear from you!

Spring 2012 mag cover.indd 2

4/17/12 4:59 PM

LU T HER A

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID La Crosse, WI Permit No. 909

WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL

Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045

Anchors aweigh! Literature comes alive during J-term Nick Preus ’69, Luther associate professor of English, facilitates discussion aboard the two-masted schooner Roseway during “Tales of the Sea,” one of 21 study-away courses offered through the Luther Center for Global Learning in January 2012. Sixteen Luther students spent ten days in the Virgin Islands aboard the Roseway—home of the World Ocean School—learning basic elements of seamanship and navigation and reading stories of characters transformed by the challenges and unpredictabilities of life

Spring 2012 mag cover.indd 3

on the high seas. While taking in the beauty of the Caribbean, class participants turned (and discussed) hundreds of pages of literature, scrubbed a few decks and countless dishes, tied knots and coiled lines, and learned the importance of teamwork when living in tight quarters. “It was a wonderful teaching experience,” Preus says, “one of the best I’ve had.” See p. 29 for a selection of photos taken by Luther students during their recent studies away from campus.

4/17/12 4:59 PM