Go Give O'G Recap 35 In Loving Memory... Alumni Obituaries
Some places leave a mark that never fades. For generations of families, Christ the King Elementary has been exactly that kind of place: a school rich in tradition, alive with community spirit, and grounded in faith. As we gather these memories and photos from across the years, we celebrate the students, families, and dedicated educators who made Christ the King Elementary what it was: a truly extraordinary place to grow. We hope these pages bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.
A Memory from Julie Kramer-Williams
"I have nothing but the BEST memories of CTK. Like the walk-a-thon... running through the halls ringing the recess bell and the assemblies screaming '10K for CK!' Or the principal who had stuffed animals kids could take home (was that Student of the Month??). And Mrs. B’s heels clickety clacking down the hall... you could ALWAYS tell if someone was in trouble by the speed and volume. But it wasn’t just the fun stuff. I remember the hard times too... when the whole school came together to support a teacher and his family. That kind of community is rare.
I remember Father McEneany coming into the classroom for his 'little tomatoes.' I remember stopping everything to pray when we heard sirens. I remember Elvira’s homemade granola with our lunches. The little things. The big things. All of it mattered."
A Memory from Barbara English White (attended from 1st - 6th grade)
"I have many memories of CTK - some funny, some sad, and some just the sort of thing that represented childhood in the '70s and early '80s. For example, did you know that we had a game only known at CTK, called 'kick down the hill' in which playground balls were kicked from the top of the hill to bounce off the gym roof, and then be caught - whoever caught the ball, got to run to the top of the hill to kick it next. I remember weekly Mass, so much liturgical music, the hanging Advent wreath outside the principal’s office, and Christmas programs and musicals (snippets of those songs still pop into my mind).
Perhaps my most vibrant memories are of the teachers and Sr. Kathryn as principal. Mrs. Broveleit and Mrs. Reilly, in their platform shoes, emerging from the smoky teacher’s lounge. Mrs. Randall challenging me as no one had up to that point. Mrs. Williams, Sr. Margaretta (who could teach even the most reluctant readers!), Mrs. Batz, Mrs. Comstock, Mrs. Sudbeck, Mrs. Doss, and Mrs. Martell. I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone from this list, but if I were to hear their name - their face would pop right back. These teachers taught us school subjects and inspired a love of learning. They taught us how to care for one another and our community, and they made each of us feel loved. What a special place to grow up!"
Memories from Mary Markstrom
Previous School Secretary, most recent listed first: Christ the King Elementary - 25 years, St. Lambert Elementary - 13 years, St. Joseph Cathedral Elementary - 7 years
“I used to order all the books and supplies for the elementary schools. Everything would be delivered to Christ the King, and in the summer, I would sort it all out by school. Curriculum books and everything.
There are so many memories over 25 years. Some of the students I had at St. Lambert and the Cathedral grew up and became parents, and then brought their own kids to Christ the King. One time, a dad came in with his daughter. He looked at me and said, ‘You’re here?’ I said, ‘Yes, I am - and I took care of you when you were at St. Lambert, and I’ll take care of her here at Christ the King.’ And I’ve had others where I’ve known the grandparents, the parents, and now the kids - it’s very generational.
The Christmas sing-along on the last day before break was something I looked forward to every year. Everyone would go down to the gym, and Joe Hurley would play while I led the kids in Christmas carols. Their favorite was The 12 Days of Christmas. Each grade would stand and sing their part - 6th grade started, then 5th grade, and so on. By the end, everyone was standing and singing. The kindergartners didn’t quite know what was going on. They were standing, sitting, singing, yelling. It was chaos, but so much fun. Even after I retired, I came back the first year to do it again.
The convent was connected to the school, so several sisters lived there. Their door actually opened into my office. Sister Dorothy loved to bake. On her day off, she’d make chocolate chip cookies, and the principal and I would often get warm cookies. One time, Sister Kathryn Easley asked me to check on a turkey she had in the oven. In the summer, I’d also go into the convent to make sure everything was running (flush toilets, turn on sinks) so I was kind of a housekeeper too. It was wonderful having the sisters there. They were a lot of fun.
The families are very faith-filled and want that passed on to their children. At weekly Mass, there were always lots of parents there supporting their kids, the school, and the teachers. They were incredibly supportive. If you needed cupcakes, chaperones, or help in the classroom, you only had to ask once. They would always show up. And the faculty and staff truly cared. If something was going on in a child’s life, we supported them. It really felt like one big family, and I was kind of the grandma.”
A Memory from Kathy (Miller) Phillips
"My six siblings and I attended CTK Elementary School in the early days of the parish, 1960s & 1970s. It was a different school experience back then. Our teachers were a mixture of nuns and lay people. They used a blackboard and chalk as a teaching tool. If you were lucky you were selected to 'clap the big erasers' outside. Some kids clapped them against the school leaving chalk on the red siding. They were talked to about that! A mimeograph machine was used to make copies of assignments and tests. I’ll never forget the smell of a fresh mimeographed sheet of paper. We were assigned school books at the beginning of the year which we were required to cover to protect them. The covers were generally made of brown paper bags from the grocery store, cut and taped to cover the books. Of course, we had no laptops or tablets back then.
Students brought their lunch from home and ate at their desks in the classroom. Our family lived one block south of the school so we were 'lucky' enough to run home each day, eat hurriedly, and run back to school to get in on the lunch recess. If the weather was nice we played kick ball on the very slanted church parking lot, there were no guard rails then. Other games we played at recess were hopscotch (we drew with chalk and used rocks), Hula Hoops, cats cradle, jump rope, and marbles on the unpaved dirt lot on the west side of the school.
In the winter, we put on our snow pants and coats and played on the huge snow piles in the parking lots. We also slid down the hill behind the school without sleds. The new addition had not been built yet. All good fun.
One of my favorite memories was when Msgr. Jerry Durzynski would come to our classrooms to hand out our report cards. He would look at each one and would comment on the good work we had done in a specific subject. As he was leaving our classroom, we students would yell 'Bless us Father, Bless us Father'. He would then put his hand up and say a blessing over us.
I graduated from O’Gorman High School with many of my CTK classmates. I still have contact with them to this day. You know who you are Class of '77.
A special thank you to all my teachers; Sr. Benedicta (Sr. Joyce), Mrs. Garry, Sr. Elise, Mrs. Rohn, Miss Perkovich (Mrs. Comstock), Sr. Victorine, Mrs. Kreitzer (ta ta tee tee ta), and Sr. Madonna (choir). They were dedicated teachers, just as the National Blue Ribbon School teachers are today. You made a difference!"
Nancy, Mark, Kathy, & Bob Miller. First day of school September 1969.
O'GORMAN
SCHEDULE KID'S ZONE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
• Football Camp
• Cheer Camp
• Alumni Knight Out Event
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
• Tailgate in the OG Parking lot
• Knights Way Parade
• Pre-Game Show
• Kick-off - 7pm
• Half-Time Show featuring Marching Knights, Fireworks, & Knight Vision Video
Bring your young Knights fans to a fun-filled afternoon before the big game!
1–3 PM (SEPT 12)
• Inflatables
• Face Painting by the PES Sisters
• Meet Parent Ambassadors from All Schools
Perfect for kids Preschool through 6th Grade - come early and let them play, explore, and connect with our amazing OG school community!
Join us for the excitement and family fun before kickoff! This is the perfect time to ask questions, meet our parent ambassadors, and learn what makes our schools special!
PRE-ORDER YOUR SHIRT TODAY!
Scan the QR code or visit the link below
https://americaninkllc.chipply.com/DakotaBowl/
Back to School! Back to School!
Event Recap!
This year’s Extravaganza was a huge success! On February 21st, we raised $166,000 with 261 guests at The Canopy Downtown Sioux Falls and 3,000+ bidding from home. Thank you to our incredible business partners, bidders, and volunteers!
Celebrating Coach Robey
When Derek Robey first took the sideline as a coach in 1986, he couldn't have known the lives he would shape over the next 40 years, but those who played for him certainly do. Enjoy the memories and words from friends and family as he retires from his OGHS basketball coaching career.
Amy Dybedahl
...Coach Robey will forever hold a special place in my heart.
A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life! These are some moments I will never forget. Thank you Coach!
Art Hagg
Congratulations on a fantastic career Derek! Sure, you had six state championships, but you did more than that; you developed young men into better people, not just players!!
Dawn Robey Wheeler
For 40 years, I've watched my brother pour his heart into the game. I've sat in the stands at countless State AA tournaments with our family, feeling the nerves, saying lots of prayers, the winning, the losing, the electricity of it all, knowing how much those moments meant to him, his coaches, and his players. And then there are the stories... his absolute favorite part. He can tell you about his players from decades ago like it was yesterday, each one with a funny moment or a memory that still makes him laugh. Those stories, the games, the years they all add up to a lifetime of dedication, love, and unforgettable memories. Forty years of coaching, well done Derek! We love you and are very proud of you!
Heather Siefkes
The impact that Coach has made on so many student athletes, there are really no words. Coach - happy retirement! You deserve it!
Isaac Struck
Story time: Watertown, 2018 season.
Officials were having a tough day... Robey was going to make sure they knew it. I had just checked out of the game after picking up a foul, sat down on the bench and Robey decided enough was enough, (he) continued to go at the official.
Whistle blows as he’s walking away. He gets down on a knee and looks me and a teammate dead in the eyes... "did I just get T’d up?,” as he cracks a big smirk.
“Yes coach, you did!”
Robey: “well that better fire us up.” We came back from a five point deficit to steal one on the road in the 4th quarter.
Pam Gordon
Derek and his teams over the years have been so fun to watch and given us so much entertainment! My very favorite memory was when the boys and girls won the state tournament the same year! OG pride overload!!!
Todd Pharis
Coach Robey’s coaching career has been an incredible accomplishment—but the even greater achievement is the incredible person behind it.
Zach Cole
I have a million great things to say about Coach Robey. He’s been an amazing mentor and now great friend over the years.
Pat Castle '89 and the LIFE Runners Community
"All In Christ for Pro-Life!"
By LIFE Runners, est. 2008
"All In Christ for Pro-Life!" This is the cheer for the LIFE Runners apostolate which was founded by 1989 O'Gorman graduate Dr. Pat Castle who now resides in Omaha. As the grand marshal and speaker for the 2026 South Dakota March for Life, Pat led hundreds with this cheer in and around the State Capitol. He has led this cheer for God and life at marches and events around the world, all the way to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world located in Africa. Pat shared that LIFE Runners are “God first, Life always, Teammates forever!”
“BE THAT ENCOURAGING PERSON WITH A LIFE-SAVING MESSAGE.”
LIFE Runners began in 2008 when Pat was a chemistry professor at the Air Force Academy. With him as the coach, a group of 12 raised funds for ultrasound equipment while training for the Chicago Marathon. Former alumni director, Carol Nesbitt ‘80, wrote an article about LIFE Runners for the Re-U-Knight-er in 2010, when there were 17 teammates racing the Sioux Falls Marathon. LIFE Runners has grown to be the largest Pro-Life team in the world with over 25,000 teammates in over 4,000 cities across 52 nations, including current O'Gorman students and many graduates. Pat presented Pope Leo XIV with a white LIFE Runners jacket which brings the ministry full circle as Pope Leo XIV is from Chicago where LIFE Runners began. Pope Leo XIV told Pat, “this [LIFE Runners] is very good.”
LIFE Runners in many ways began with Pat's parents Joe and Kathy enrolling him at Christ the King Elementary School and O'Gorman
High School for his faith to be strengthened. Pat's mom was O'Gorman's secretary when he and his brothers, Joe ‘85, Dan ‘86, and Steve ‘94, attended O'Gorman High School. Pat and cross-country team co-captain, Dale Sundermann ‘89, were allowed by Coach Lindner to put Phil 4:13 on the team warm-up shirts. Pat and Dale both live in Omaha where they carry the big “REMEMBER The Unborn” banner in local parades and marches. Pat said the award he is most proud of is O'Gorman's Lee Dolan Award, presented to the athlete who best exemplifies the values of O'Gorman.
The Trinity is on the front. The Cross reminds us that we are All In Christ. The Dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit bringing confidence, healing, and peace for our mission. Jeremiah 1:5 is God the Father declaring, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” On the back is the message “REMEMBER The Unborn”, which we carry to encourage our culture to choose life. The jersey is blue, representing Mary and her complete yes to God the giver of life eternal. The blue shirt also lines up with Pat’s blue Air Force uniform and blue O’Gorman jersey.
On LIFE Runners shirts and jackets are the Gospel values, also the O'Gorman Values, service and sacrifice for God and neighbor.
Pat’s brother, Steve ’94, has been a great help with LIFE Runners from the beginning with critical inputs: recommended the book Unbound, helped design the jersey, encouraged the LIFE Runners Creed holy card (liferunners.org/creed) and so much more.
Continued on next page...
The best news for some is that running is optional. Everyone wears the "REMEMBER The Unborn" witness, from babies in onesies to grandparents in jackets. This encouraging message impacts hearts and minds for saving lives. Eighty-two percent of post-abortion mothers reported that they would have chosen life if they had encountered an encouraging person or an encouraging message. Be that encouraging person with a life-saving message, join the team (running optional), register to receive the monthly update, and get a royal blue "REMEMBER The Unborn" shirt or jacket to wear your witness, liferunners.org/join. LIFE Runners directs the A-Cross America Relay, the largest spanning Pro-Life event in the world, which goes through Sioux Falls every September. Sign up to walk or run 5K segments on the course or in your neighborhood, details at liferunners.org/across.
LIFE Runners provides free "REMEMBER The Unborn" shirts for students (kindergarten to college) to wear at school on the first Wednesday of each month, request at exec@liferunners. org. Pat presented LIFE Runners to the entire O'Gorman student body in 2012 for Awareness Day. He has presented at Christ the King Elementary, Augustana College, University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University. O’Gorman coach Aaron Strand invited him to speak to the O’Gorman cross-country team in 2025. This life-saving messaging ministry work has been supported by O’Gorman/Cathedral graduates and their organizations.
Pat is married to Angi with grown daughters Paige and Grace. He did ten military assignments, including the Weapons of Mass Destruction Defense Officer at the base closest to Osama bin Laden on September 11. Pat now defends against the greatest weapon of mass destruction, abortion, which has claimed over 65 million American lives.
Pat retired from the Air Force in 2014, after serving as the medical support squadron commander at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD.
Follow this timeline to see how God built the LIFE Runners apostolate from 12 to over 25,000 – All In Christ for Pro-Life!
Religious Spotlight Fr. Terry Weber, Class of 1973
Senior Priest
What are some hobbies you have in your free time? Reading, movies, plays, slingshot rides, traveling, hiking.
What activities/sports were you involved in at O'Gorman?
Not many activities or sports as I was in the Minor Seminary that had its own scheduled time with fellow seminarians.
What is your favorite high school memory? OG plays.
What teacher inspired you the most?
I enjoyed most of my teachers because I felt they took the time to get to know me as I was a new kid my junior year.
What was your favorite cafeteria food in high school?
I was a 24-hour, 7 day a week hamburger person. All three of our meals were made by the OG cooks. In the middle of my senior year, one of my sisters was diagnosed with cancer. Since I was living away from the family, it caused a lot of worry for me and I developed a stomach ulcer. The OG cooks were very nice in adjusting to my new meal plan.
and a boat with you becoming the crew. There was a mixture of 14 of us. We all got along so famously that every other year we sailed together. Still do. I would also have to say my six-month sabbatical to Rome for study with trips to Holy Sites in the Holy Land and Greece. I loved all the artwork.
How did you get your call to priesthood?
By a 4th-grade teacher. And then many other different people in the years ahead.
If you could spend a day with anyone from history (besides Jesus), who would it be and why?
Pope John XXIII. I admire his dedication to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and open the windows of the church to the world.
Tell us a little about your family. Do you have siblings? Did they attend O'Gorman too?
I have had three brothers and three sisters. Our family lived in Mitchell, so I was the only one at O'Gorman.
Did you attend one of the Catholic elementary schools in Sioux Falls? Which one?
What was the uniform policy when you attended O'Gorman High School?
Nice dress shirt and pants with a tie. Maybe more guided by the seminary's policy than the school's policy.
Favorite place you have traveled to?
I have had a chance to travel to 20 different countries. On one of my sailboat trips, they provided a captain
I felt privileged to return to OG for five years as chaplain and on the teaching staff. I was amazed and moved by how many former students came back to teach. I was also pleased that Jeff Gordon, from my home town of Mitchell, taught at OG for so many years. I loved seeing firsthand his rapport with the students. He, like so many, were exceptional teachers and role models.
O’Gorman Alumnus Considered for Sainthood
By Chris Vander Woude, Son of Tom Vander Woude
Aprize for a hair salon visit. Not needing it, he gave it to Mary Ellen Earley '62 and asked to walk her home. That marked the start of their 48-year relationship. After Dad graduated from Creighton University, they got married at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Mom and Dad had seven sons, and I am the fifth.
Dad served our country for 16 years in the Navy, including as a Naval Aviator in the Tonkin Gulf. He then became a commercial airline pilot, retiring in 2002.
In 1984, we moved to Virginia to attend Seton School. At Seton, Dad was a jack-of-all-trades, coaching basketball and
“JUST DO THE
RIGHT THING.
t halftime during an O’Gorman football game in 2010, Tom Vander Woude ‘60 was inducted into the O’Gorman-Cathedral Hall of Fame for Excellence in Service, but Tom was absent. Two years earlier, he had given his life to save his son. Now, the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, could open my father’s cause for Canonization.
Dad was born in 1942 and grew up on a farm near Sioux Falls. He attended Cathedral and played both basketball and football. He joked that he played football just for the hot showers. Dad was a key player on the 1960 Cathedral State Championship team and earned All-State honors that year. During his junior year at a church bazaar, Dad won a raffle
soccer, laying the basketball floor, building bleachers, hanging lights, and setting up the stage for musicals. He was known for his quiet generosity, co-signing loans for young families, and letting a family of 12 stay with us for a week while they searched for a new home.
Dad’s devotion to Mom was evident in the way he looked at and spoke to her. They were an unshakable team. They attended Mass and said the Rosary daily, and Dad would make a weekly holy hour from 2:00am–3:00am in the adoration chapel. Their spiritual unity was the foundation of their marriage.
Dad and Mom’s selfless love grew even stronger when my youngest brother, Joseph, was born with Down Syndrome. Doctors told my parents that crawling would aid Joseph’s development. Since it was difficult for Joseph, Dad spent hours crawling around the house with him. Joseph sat with Dad on the bench for most games Dad coached, and Dad even got him into some basketball games at Seton. Wherever Dad went, Joseph was there too. They were inseparable.
Dad’s final act for Joseph taught me a lesson I will never forget: real love is sacrificial.
On that fateful morning of September 8, 2008, Joseph fell into our farm’s septic tank when the cover collapsed, sending him into toxic sewage and gases. Dad called for help, jumped in, and started pushing Joseph up toward fresh air. A man working on the house ran over to help. Dad told him, “You pull, I’ll push.” Then the fumes overtook Dad, and he sank beneath Joseph. After calling 9-1-1, my mom came to help. She watched horrified, knowing Dad was trapped underneath. When the first responders arrived, they rescued Joseph and rushed him to the hospital. When they pulled Dad out of the tank, they were unable to revive him. He had drowned. Dad
was a quiet man who seldom preached, but he used to say, “Just do the right thing.” He died doing just that.
Amazingly, Joseph survived and has assisted my mom on the farm to this day. Dad’s viewing lasted more than five hours, and nearly two thousand people attended the funeral. Throughout the pain, I have found comfort in Our Lord’s words: “No greater love hath a man, than to lay down his life for his friends.”
Another consolation is that the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, is now considering opening Dad’s cause for canonization. Since Dad’s death, prayer favors have been attributed to his intercession. Babies at death’s doorstep have recovered after their parents asked for Dad’s help. A priest with internal issues was healed after attending Dad’s funeral. A dying man who had obstinately refused the Last Rites changed his mind after a priest prayed for Dad's intercession.
Saint stories often involve men and women who took religious vows, led extraordinary lives, and lived centuries ago, making sainthood seem daunting or unrelatable. I believe my dad’s story is powerful because he was a simple man who lived an ordinary life. He was a farmer, soldier, pilot, coach, husband, and father. Dedicating his life to daily duty, and “doing the right thing,” prepared my dad for the ultimate sacrifice.
I hope and pray the story of his life and death inspires everyone who hears it to pursue holiness in their daily lives.
Chris Vander Woude is a board member of the Tom Vander Woude Guild. To learn more about the process or to share memories of Tom or prayer favors, visit www.tvwguild.org
Q&A A Conversation with Joan: Reflections from a Life
in Education
By Joan Mahoney, Principal of O'Gorman High School, 36 Years of Service
What first inspired you to pursue a career in education, and did you always envision becoming a principal? I knew I wanted to be an English teacher when I started my college career. I was inspired to pursue a career in education because I truly enjoyed my high school years, and I wanted to share my love of literature and writing with students. I did not think about becoming a principal until well into my career as a teacher.
Looking back on your time here, what accomplishment are you most proud of? Of course, I am incredibly proud of the three National Blue Ribbon School awards that I was a part of during my years at O’Gorman, especially the award we won in 2021 after just emerging from the pandemic.
QUITE LIKE NO PLACE
“ THERE IS HIGH SCHOOL.ˮ O'GORMAN
But, I think I am most proud of how our school community handled the school closure during the COVID pandemic in 2020. When we sent students home on Friday, March 13, of that year, we had no idea that we would not see our students in the building again until fall. The incredible effort that our teachers put in to try to continue offering quality instruction was absolutely inspiring. The support we received from our families throughout the closure was heartwarming. And, the courage and perseverance shown by our students was incredible. I remember being moved to tears on numerous occasions during those weeks and months. It was the most difficult situation I have ever had to manage in my professional career.
What do you believe makes our school community truly special? Our faith binds us together. We have the ability to turn to our faith in good times and in times of need. This, at its core, leads to deeper relationships and more interdependence. Some
people think we are being trite in saying that our school community is truly special, but the reality is that there is no place quite like O’Gorman High School. And, that begins and ends with a community of faithfilled people pursuing a similar mission.
Is there a particular moment with a student, staff member, or family that has stayed with you over the years? I think that the moments that have stayed with me the most, for good or bad, are the times that we have navigated tragic situations involving our staff, our students and their families, or, sometimes, our graduates. In the thirty-six years that I have spent at OG, we have dealt with some real gutwrenching tragedies. What stays with me are the memories of how we came together as a community during these times and cried and prayed our way through the grief.
How have you seen the school grow or transform during your tenure? In some ways O’Gorman has changed significantly since I arrived in 1990, but the traditions and the culture have remained the same. Obviously, we went from an older building with no air conditioning to a beautiful state-of-the-art facility
during my tenure. We went from blackboards to Promethean Boards and from notebooks to Chromebooks. But, what I appreciate the most about O’Gorman is that at its core, our school culture and values have not changed. We live our Mission to form a community of faith and learning rooted in Gospel values.
What has brought you the greatest joy in serving as principal? I would say that my greatest joy comes from seeing our students grow and mature during their time at OG and after they leave. Visiting with seniors and graduates, I can see that the work we invest in these young people is coming to fruition. Our theology teachers say it best when they say, “We can only plant the seeds.” And, our teachers do such an incredible job of planting those seeds and setting these students up for success.
What message would you like to share with our alumni and current families? I would like to tell our alumni how very proud I am of all of them. Many of them are our current parents, and they are working so hard to provide the best faithfilled education possible for their own children. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with several generations of families during my time at OG.
What advice would you offer to future school leaders or educators? I would encourage teachers and administrators to continue to believe in what they do. While the world has changed drastically in the past 36 years, teens still struggle with the same fundamental adolescent issues. Continue to believe in your students and help them grow in their resilience and perseverance. These traits are essential for finding happiness in life.
As you enter retirement, what are you most looking forward to — and what will you miss most? In retirement, I am most looking forward to having time to spend with my children and grandchildren. I believe that we need to make the effort to build relationships with our grandchildren while they still enjoy doing things with us. These years are precious.
I will miss the daily interactions with students and teachers and the rhythm of the school year. Only when you work in a school do you get a fresh start every year. That was something I really valued.
“You Belong Here” The VandenBos Family’s Journey Home to the Catholic Church
By Becca Thiry, Enrollment Coordinator
Ryan and Tara VandenBos never expected that choosing a kindergarten for their twins, Dawson and Delaney, would one day lead their entire family into the Catholic church.
It began with an unexpected change. The preschool that their twins were attending had closed just before kindergarten, sending them into a season of searching. They explored both public and private schools, attending an open house where several options were presented. Among them was St. Michael Elementary. The welcome they received felt sincere and personal, and when they later walked through the doors of the school itself, something quietly stood out.
“It just felt different,” the VandenBos’ recalled. “The academics were strong, the atmosphere was warm,
and the community felt authentic.” This decision marked the beginning of something much bigger than they realized.
Ryan had been baptized Catholic but had stopped practicing as a teenager. Tara was raised Christian Reformed. When they began dating at age 14, they attended her church together. For years, that was their church. Once their children entered Catholic school, something began to shift.
Faith was no longer something happening only on Sundays. Their children were learning it daily. “They’ve had this faith since kindergarten,” Tara said. “They understand way more than we did.” As their children brought home religion lessons and talked about what they were learning, Tara found herself looking closer. What she had once understood from a distance now felt richer, fuller, and more complete.
What struck them most during those early school years was how fully they were welcomed — even before becoming Catholic. “Most kids never knew ours weren’t Catholic,” they shared. “They were never singled out.” That quiet inclusion planted seeds neither parent could ignore.
For Ryan, there had always been a quiet longing to return to a Catholic Mass. Even while attending a Reformed church, he found himself wondering what was happening at St. Michael. That desire, once buried, began to rise again.
One day, Ryan asked the question that had been lingering: “Where do you want to go [to Mass]?” He quietly hoped for one answer. When Tara said, “St. Michael,” he responded without hesitation: “Perfect. Let’s go.”
In 2021, Tara began working as an administrative assistant at O’Gorman High School. During orientation, she heard about the podcast Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz. She decided to listen. Day by day, Scripture began to unfold in a new way. “It answered so many questions,” she explained. “It really made sense. And that kind of sealed the deal. I was like, yes — I do believe this. I want to join the Catholic Church.”
herself. “We’ve come full circle,” Tara reflected. There were other quiet nudges along the way. Tara remembers repeatedly seeing billboards that read, “You belong here.” Each time, the message struck her heart. “There it is,” she thought. “I guess we belong here.”
Through OCIA, their faith deepened together. “We really wanted to be on the same page with our kids,” Tara said. What their children had been learning was now transforming their marriage and their home. School, Sunday Mass, and daily life were no longer separate, they were one.
In March of 2024, at Easter Vigil, Ryan and Tara were confirmed into the Catholic Church. That same night, their children received First Communion. It was more than a sacramental milestone, it was a unified family moment, years in the making. Since their confirmation, even Ryan’s parents have returned to regular Mass attendance, a quiet ripple of grace extending beyond their own household.
Looking back, she sees God’s providence woven throughout their story. Even at previous jobs, Catholic coworkers had gently encouraged her. One of those coworkers eventually became her confirmation sponsor — an O’Gorman graduate
What began as a school search became a journey home, guided by small invitations, steady conviction, daily Scripture, and the witness of their own children. “You feel like a family,” they shared. “You feel a part of it. And it’s something very special here.” And in the end, the message that once caught Tara’s eye proved true: They belonged here.
MESSAGES FROM THE PRINCIPALS
Holy Spirit Elementary Christ the King Elementary
BY LISA HUEMOELLER, PRINCIPAL
The love and commitment of the Christ the King community have continued to be a blessing throughout this semester. We are grateful for the many ways our students, families, and staff have come together in faith and support of one another.
During Lent, our students gathered each Friday to pray the Stations of the Cross, growing in their understanding of Christ’s sacrifice. The Hope Squad coordinated our Lenten Service Project in conjunction with the other elementary schools, which supported the VA, allowing students to serve those in need. A special highlight was celebrating First Holy Communion, as 21 of our 2nd graders received the Eucharist for the first time.
Our 5th graders joined peers from across Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools for the Rejoice in the Lord retreat, and we honored our 6th-grade students at a Celebration Mass as they prepared for the next step in their Catholic education. As the school year came to a close, students also enjoyed a variety of field trips, celebrating friendships, learning, and the many memories made together.
As we finish this semester strong, our Christ the King community remains deeply thankful for our students who bring energy and joy to each day, our dedicated teachers and staff who serve with faith and love, and our families and pastorate community whose support continues to shine. We carry these shared experiences forward with gratitude and hope as our students continue their journey within Catholic education.
BY REGAN MANNING, PRINCIPAL
We had another wonderful Spring semester at Holy Spirit Elementary.
We celebrated our annual Father/Daughter dance at the beautiful Monick Yards Event Center, and had our annual Mother/Son bowling event at Empire Bowl. These events always provide such great experiences for our dads and daughters and moms and sons.
During Lent, our students prayed the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. Our Lenten Service Project provided much needed items for the VA Hospital. Immediately following Lent, forty-five of our 2nd graders received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time making their First Holy Communion. We closed out the year with our annual May Crowning Mass and 6th grade Mass of Sending. Forty-six 6th grade students walked the halls of Holy Spirit Elementary for the final time on May 15th as they now enter the next stage of their life at O’Gorman Junior High.
Our 5th graders really enjoyed gathering with all their fellow 5th grade students across Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools at St. Joseph Cathedral for the Rejoice in the Lord retreat. Special thanks to the PES Sisters and the OGHS and OGJH Campus Ministry students for hosting this wonderful retreat for our students.
The 6th grade students made the trek to Alexandria, SD and had the opportunity to celebrate Mass with the Carmelite Sisters, view the Fatima Family Shrine, and get a glimpse of what cloistered life looks like on their annual Cast Your Nets Out into the Deep retreat.
A big thank you goes out to all of the parents, grandparents, and friends of Holy Spirit Elementary that volunteered throughout the school year with your time, talents, and treasure. Your gifts are greatly appreciated and integral in advancing our mission.
For the last Pi Day celebration at CTK, the 4th graders threw 35 whipped cream pies at Mrs. Williams.
5th & 6th graders spent the afternoon learning about the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court. Community helper week in preschool.
St. Lambert Elementary St. Katharine Drexel Elementary
BY STACY CHARRON, PRINCIPAL
As the school year draws to a close, it's impossible not to look back on the past months with a sense of fulfillment and gratitude. The second semester has been a whirlwind of academic growth, meaningful service, and unforgettable new experiences. From diving into challenging coursework and year-end testing to completing impactful service projects during Catholic Schools Week and Lent, each day has been a step forward in our personal journeys towards Christ. There is no doubt that this semester has been a testament to our resilience, adaptability, and capacity for growth. As we bid farewell to another school year, we carry with us the lessons learned, the memories made, and the bonds formed, knowing that they will continue to shape and inspire us in the years to come. Here's to a school year filled with accomplishments and cherished memories.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this school year: staff, students, parents, and volunteers. As we reflect on the memories we have created, the challenges we have overcome, and the triumphs we have celebrated together, let us take pride in all that we have accomplished as a school community!
BY AMANDA BOSCH, PRINCIPAL
The second semester has been full of meaningful experiences and especially rich in moments of faith, service, and community. We joyfully celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a family breakfast, student variety show, service projects, and a fun family ice skating event. Our students lived out their faith through service by collecting coins for United Way, creating Valentine cards for homebound parishioners, and writing letters to seminarians. In February, we celebrated our diverse community during the Cultural Showcase, where English Language Learner students shared about their family’s home countries.
The Lenten season began with Ash Wednesday and the 40 Hours Devotion Mass, helping center our hearts on prayer and reflection. During Lent, our students prayerfully participated in the Living Stations, bringing the story of Christ’s passion to life in a meaningful way. Families also came together for STEM Night, enjoying hands-on activities connected to Lent.
One highlight of the spring is always our Terrific Thursday event, where students participated in a variety of engaging sessions, exploring topics ranging from disc golf and creating their own park to learning about creatures of the night and planting succulents. The year ended with field trips and memorable end-of-year events including our May Crowning Mass and celebrating our 6th graders as they transition to the Junior High. We are grateful for our staff, families, volunteers, and community supporters. Your support is what makes our school community so special!
Our 5th graders created models of the human heart as they learned about the circulatory system.
Our 6th graders and teachers faced off in a fun-filled volleyball game for Catholic Schools Week!
From eggs to ‘peeps’—our 4th grade classroom hatched their own chicks!
St. Michael Elementary St. Mary Elementary
BY DRAKE BACHMEIER, PRINCIPAL
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our playground project! We are excited to share that we have raised enough funds to complete Phase 1 of our new playground. Beginning this summer, we will install a perimeter fence and turf.
We are also making great progress toward Phase 2, which will include a swing set, followed by Phase 3, featuring a new climbing structure. This playground will benefit generations of St. Mary students and staff for years to come.
Our students have also been actively engaged in a variety of outreach and service projects. They collected toiletries to donate to local organizations in need. During Lent, we collected canned goods for Feeding South Dakota. We also participated in Coins for Kids, a fundraiser supporting the Sioux Empire United Way.
Faith formation continues to be at the heart of our school.
Throughout the year, students have grown through the sacraments, adoration, daily prayer, virtue formation, and participation in retreats. We have especially appreciated visits from the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters, as well as meaningful classroom discussions with Fr. Doty.
As we wrap up this wonderful school year, students also participated in Dart Day—our school-wide positive behavior program. Students who demonstrate what it means to be "acting like a Knight” are recognized and rewarded during our monthly assemblies. It has been inspiring to see so many students at St. Mary living out these values each day.
BY TERESA HULSCHER, PRINCIPAL
The second semester at St. Michael Elementary has been filled with meaningful experiences, joyful moments, and opportunities for both faith and learning to come alive.
We kicked off the new year with engaging events for families, including our Preschool Prom and a well-attended Skate Night. Faith Families gathered to solve an escape room challenge during Catholic Schools Week, and the week ended with the annual 6th graders volleyball match against their teachers.
Students celebrated their love of reading throughout the semester with a Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character Day, monthly Book Club meetings, and a careful eye on the Bookmark Madness brackets that highlighted artistic expression, raised school spirit, and offered a little friendly competition.
As we entered the Lenten season, our focus turned toward faith, service, and sacrifice. Students committed to making daily sacrifices together and classrooms filled and donated Rice Bowls. Our Hope Squad, St. Vincent de Paul service projects, and pop tab collection for the Ronald McDonald House, provided additional opportunities for students to serve others and live out their faith in tangible ways.
Several special visitors, including the Sioux Falls Fire Department, the PES Sisters, O’Gorman High School students, and former teachers like Dianne Olson, helped to enrich our students’ learning experiences, as did field trips to the Water Festival and Trinity Heights. Specialty Day was once again, a day of learning and laughter for all ages!
The semester has reflected the strong sense of community, faith, and growth that defines St. Michael Elementary. We are grateful for the many opportunities our students have had to learn, serve, and thrive together.
The PES sisters visited 3rd grade classes.
We are so proud of all of our students who participated in this year’s St. Mary Elementary Spelling Bee!
Our 1st graders had the privilege of learning from Mr. Preston Olson through the 40 and 8 Flag Program.
BY WADE CHARRON, PRINCIPAL
It has been another wonderful year at O’Gorman Junior High School!
In January, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week in style. One of the highlights of that week was hosting Christian hip-hop artist, Connor Flanagan, for a highenergy concert. It was definitely an event that the students will not forget anytime soon.
The second semester was also marked by several great achievements. In January, our show choir, Innovation, captured first place at the Mitchell Show Choir Competition. On the athletic side, we had numerous record-breaking performances during the track and field season, most notably from our 8th grade girls’ team. We also had several students compete at the high school level in their respective winter or spring sport.
Our students are also growing in their faith. Weekly Campus Ministry activities and the regular offering of the sacraments continue to be an integral part of life at OGJH. Our peer ministry team had several opportunities of leading students at the school, along with various outreach opportunities at the various elementary schools throughout the school system. We continue to partner with our parishes to provide students the opportunities to grow in their faith and to build community. Throughout the year, we welcomed our parish priests to celebrate Mass and to offer reconciliation to our students. Additionally, parish/ pastorate lunches have occurred throughout the year where students come together with their home parish staff for faith, fun, and fellowship.
O’Gorman Junior High O’Gorman High School MESSAGES FROM THE PRINCIPALS
BY JOAN MAHONEY, PRINCIPAL
Spring is a time of celebration at OGHS as we prepare to honor the graduating class of 2026. Our seniors have been incredible faith-filled leaders in the classroom, on stage, and on the athletic field. They have left behind a legacy of success, and they will be greatly missed.
Academically, five of our seniors earned National Merit Finalist status. 44 seniors maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout their high school careers. A total of 113 seniors received either the Regents Scholar or Presidential Academic Award. This represents 68% of the class.
Athletically, this winter saw our girls’ basketball team bring home their fourth state title in five years. We hosted over two thousand athletes at our O’Gorman Invitational Track and Field Event on May 1. This event, held on our campus, brings together parents, staff members, and a host of other volunteers to successfully manage athletes from over 50 schools. It is a tremendous community building event!
Our entry at the State One Act Festival brought home a superior award along with numerous superior ensemble awards. Our spring musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, played to tremendous crowds during the last week in April, and we highlighted our vocal and instrumental music programs with a series of five concerts featuring our orchestra, band, and choir students.
Students from all grade levels assisted with the system-wide 5th grade retreat, and our monthly praise and worship night, The Well continued to attract large numbers of students. Our spring overnight retreat in late February allowed our juniors and seniors to spend time at the Broom Tree Retreat Center with opportunities for prayer, adoration, Mass, and reconciliation.
As we embark on the more relaxed summer months ahead, we are grateful for the community of faith and learning that we are blessed with at O’Gorman High School.
Our 7th graders were able to experience a virtual reality cell lab brought to us by SDSU.
Donuts and juice made one morning a little sweeter as part of National Catholic Schools Week.
Congratulations to the new students entered into the OGHS chapter of the National Honor Society during our annual NHS Mass. We are proud to now have 79 seniors and 77 juniors, for a total of 156 current NHS members!
Congratulations to the following qualifiers for the HOSA International Leadership Conference. They have qualified to compete this June in Indianapolis, IN.
Preslie Sampson - 1st Place - Clinical Nursing
Lia Tiangco - 1st Place - Clinical Specialty
Javier Kovacs - 1st Place - Biotechnology
Carlos Casanova - Top 5 in Medical Law & Ethics
WHAT’S UP AT O†G High School
James Danh placed 1st at the USA Powerlifting Nationals in Texas!
Congrats to all of our powerlifters and coaches!
Girls powerlifting placed 2nd at the State Meet with Moxie and Ackley Barch placing 1st.
The Lady Knights won 3 straight, 4 of the last 5, and 6 of the last 10 State Championships!
The Know Your Faith competition is an annual, Jeopardy-style Catholic trivia showdown. For the second time in three years, O’Gorman brought home the trophy!
Congratulations Gabe Rook, Sherry Sun, Nickolas Rodriguez, Keni Oddi, and Remi Byrd for being selected to show their artwork at the Emily's Hope Youth Art Competition at Mosaic Arts & Events.
Remi Byrd received the first place award for 3D art and Keni Oddi received the runner-up award. Congratulations to all of these talented artists.
OGHS Spanish Teacher, Sarah Sinnott, has been named the 2025 SD World Language Association Teacher of the Year and has been selected as a 2027 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year Finalist, representing the Central Region. We are so fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s education, experience, and talent on our staff!
Sheila McQuade, who is one of two math teachers from SD, has been selected as finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The PAEMST is a national award that recognizes outstanding K-12 mathematics or science teachers from each state.
Congratulations Adud Arop, who just reached Premier Distinction, the highest degree in the National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society! Fewer than 3% of NSDA members earn Premier Distinction prior to graduation!
Congratulations to the Educator Rising students who qualified for the national competition at the state conference: Lilly Albrecht, Kennedy Brown, Madison Brown, Grace Johnson, and Claire DeVaney. Kennedy and Madison took 1st place in their competition category! They will all be heading to Portland, OR in June for the national competition.
Special thanks to all of our families who contributed to our Advent Baby Shower. We were able to present and deliver our donations to St. Vincent de Paul.
The OGJH Quiz Bowl team won first place in the Madison Middle School Quiz Bowl meet, beating out 17 other teams from 8 other schools. The team did a great job, finishing 5-1 in their six matches, and averaging almost 18 points per round to end up with a winning score of 107 total points. Congratulations!
The show choir performance by Innovation did not disappoint! Congratulations to our students and Ms. Larson on an outstanding season where they were named 1st place, people’s choice, best soloist, and best performer.
This year we had three Junior High students selected for the SD Jr. Honor Choir!
7th - Isabella Baroni & Izzy Zdorovtsov
8th - Keira Ryan
Keria Ryan was also selected to sing the National Youth Choir that will be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City in the Spring! Wonderful accomplishment!
Congratulations to these OGJH students for being selected for Middle School All-State Band! Special shout out to Norah Cook for being a member all three years!
Connor Flanagan brought the heat with an incredible Christian hip-hop concert for our junior high students! The perfect, highenergy way to close out Catholic Schools Week!
WHAT’S UP AT O†G
Many of our 8th grade girls attended the annual Women in Science event. This is always a fun and engaging day for our students.
Jeopardy at O’Gorman Junior High featuring 7th graders vs. 8th graders vs. teachers, hosted by Fr. Kapperman!
Junior High School
Thank you so much to all for supporting our annual Student Hunger Drive. This year we were fortunate to donate $3,847 to Feeding South Dakota. Thank you for your support in helping those in our community!
Grateful for Hunter Pinke and his “No Bad Days” message. Hunter’s story was a powerful reminder that perseverance, perspective, and faith can carry us through even the hardest moments.
Senior Class of 2026
Boys
Yaqob Belay Abebe lXUo
Blake Patrick Ambroz
Dane Christian James Andersen lXU
Jayden Benjamin Antonen
John Paul Gabriel Raphael Beaner l
Miles Ryan Bender lXU
Jaxton Allen Benz
Thomas James Berdahl lXUo
Grady Allen Blauwet X
Colin Timothy Boyle lXUo
Finn Matthew Canfield lXUo
Jack Daniel Edwin Canfield
Spencer John Charron X
Yujin Choi lXUo&
Nathaniel William Christen U
Kamden I Cisse
Mason Paul Clark lXUo&
John Samuel Cleberg
Hunter Thomas Cox
Jonah Flynn Crowe
James Quang Danh
Tige Ronald Dinges lXUo
Noah Charles Dobbs lXUo
Joseph Mitchell Drake lUo
Bennett Christopher Duncan lXUo
Carson David Edwards lXU
Devin John Ellis
Easton Michael Erickson lXU
Clark Garrison Friedman lXU
Zachariah Owen Greble lXU
Gavin Joseph Hammrich
William John Hance
Dustin Michael Hawks
Jack Camden Healy
Zachary David Heineman lXU
Blaine Robert Heitmann
Alaric Wiles Hillman U
Dawson Daniel Horst lXU
Afru Yonas Jage
Alec Douglas Johnson XU
Barron Bradley Jones lXU
Isaac James Kappel lXUo
Akana Tesfay Katta
Sawyer John Konechne lXU
Tanner Jaymes Konshak
John Timothy Kovash
Will Patrick Koziara lX
Joseph Ronald Laible lXUo
Christopher Joseph Lee
David Joseph Livermont lXo
Cael Matthew Lynch
Sviatoslav Sergeyevich Makin lXUo
Taten Micah Mauney X
Isaiah Michael Maus X
Edward Andrew McQuistan lXUo
Matthew Allen Mead
Kai Greycen Mentele X
Luke James Meyer X
Garvey Lewis Mueller
Jase Jarrod Muller X
Caleb Charles Douglas Myers XU
Noah Thomas James Myers lXU
Lucas Alexander Nikolas U
Landon Theodore Nohrenberg lX
Zachary Vincent North lXU
Dylan Joseph Ochoa Maldonado
Keni Jacomo Oddi X
Nicholas Jason Ollerich X
Caden Joseph Olson X
Keaton Earl Raasch
Vincent Patrick Radel lXUo
Samuel Ryan Reckling lXU
Nickolas Rodriguez lX
Gabrien Terry Rook
Grant Daniel Roth lXUo
Beckett Benson Rothrock X
John Darrell Salter X
Luke Skywalker Sanchez lXUo
Parker Jacob Scheidt XU
Charles Joseph Schmitz
Evan Joseph Schoenfelder
Garrison Ruben Schoenwald
Robert Jonathan Sealey
Henry Gunnar Sejnoha
Rip Joseph Siemonsma X
Landon Thomas Sohre lXUo
William John Sorenson lXU
Matthew William Steffen lXU
Jack James Stocklin lXU
Cooper James Struck
Walker Scott Sundermann
Isaac David Tobin lXUo
Owen Michael Tschetter lXU
Brody William Tynan lXUo
Jeronimo Jose Vizcarrondo U
Minh Tuan Vu lU
Preston Scott Vucurevich lXU
Benjamin Douglas Weber lU
Jaxson Brody Weeldreyer
Daniel Thomas White XU
Nolan Aaron Wiersma
Braylen Drew Yellow Bird X
Girls
Ella Marie Adamiak lXUo&
Lilly Joe Albrecht
Margaret Ruth Althoff XU
Venettia Francesca Anel lXUo
Audrey Elizabeth Arend lXU
Adud Myakol Arop
Brooklyn Marie Bailey X
Lucia Kay Baloun lUo
Delaney Marie Berg lXU
Lundyn Mae Carter X
Laney Kristina Castelluzzo l
Capri Dora Connelly
Holly Allita Davis
Sophie Evelyn DeMore lXU
Addison Mary Dougherty XU
Charlotte Gayle Eich X
Sarina Marie Ellenbecker lXUo
Lydia Nadine Elmen lXUo
Elizabeth Ashley Ernst lXUo
Geneva Ann Fredrickson lXUo
Lauren Elizabeth Friedman lXUo
Gianna Faith Geraets
Grace Marie Godshall
Ainsley Kathryn Groos lXUo
Ava Marie Guzzetta lXUo& Juliana Rose Guzzetta lXUo&
Amy Genevieve Heiman lUo
Isabella Katherine Hosek X
Emily Dawn Ideker lXUo
Grace Elizabeth Johnson U
Molly Jeanne Johnson X
Alivia Madison Jones lX
Alora Marie Kent
Hadley Jo Kerkvliet lX
Brenna Claire Kestel lXUo
Ava Marie Kowalczyk lXUo
Sidney Grace Kunkel
Raina Gasim Omar Labi
Jennifer Hong Le lXUo
Clare Marie Leveritt
Hannah Marie Lewison lXUo
Zoey Elizabeth McEneaney
Adilyn Jaida McIntyre lXU
Sadie M Mehrman lXo
Madelyn Aliza Nekvinda lXUo
Leah Olivia Nielsen
Lily Grace O’Connor lXU
Gabriella Marie Picconi U
Cali Paige Roemen lXU
Alivia Katherine Satter lXU
Raynie Ann Scholten X
Londyn Fae Smith lXUo
Ave Maria Stanek
Carra Frances Stencil
Libby Marie Stoll X
Fanyun Sun XU
Emma Grace Sundvold lXUo
Sydney Marie Terveen X
Payton Sophia Thomas X
Lauren Elizabeth Venenga lXo
Makenzie Lynn Walsh
Lily Michelle Wuebben lXUo
Karyne Eve Zdorovtsov lX
Key
National Merit Finalist l X U o &
National Honor Society
South Dakota Regents Scholar
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
4.0 or higher Grade Point
Average (weighted or unweighted, after 7 semesters)
to Gene
'80 and
Michael Moran ‘86 just finished a one year, (2024/2025), 22 credit hour, post graduate certificate in Turin Shroud studies (Sindonology), online in Rome at the Pontifical Atheneum Regina Apostolorum’s Faith and Science Institute, the only place currently that offers this degree.
Josie (Heisel) Gaspar ‘12 and James Gaspar ‘12 welcomed a son, Thomas James, 1-18-26.
Alexandra (Anderson) Mickelsen ‘16 married Brandon Mickelsen, October 25, 2025, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN.
Congratulations to Bergen Reilly ‘23 for the following honors for Nebraska Volleyball:
• AVCA All-America First Team
• Academic All-America Team Member of the Year
• Academic All-America First Team
• Honda Sport Award for Volleyball Finalist
• AVCA Setter of the Year
• AVCA West Region Player of the Year
• AVCA All-Region Team
• Big Ten Player of the Year
• Big Ten Setter of the Year
• All-Big Ten First Team
Bella Johnson '25 and Luke Birkeland '25 both graduated from Air Force Basic Military Training in San Antonio. They will be serving the SD Air National Guard after attending their Air Force Technical Schools. They will continue attending college, Bella at SDSU and Luke at USD, following their military technical school trainings.
Congratulations
Jones Jr.
Scott Jones '83 who were named SBA South Dakota Small Business Champions - Maguire.
High School Reunions—because you can’t give a hug on social media!
Yes, even though you may know what your classmates have been up to via their Facebook or Instagram pages, there is nothing like seeing a friend in person. That’s why it’s so important for our alumni to come back ‘home.’
Upcoming Past
CLASS OF 1971 – 55TH CLASS REUNION
SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
(More to come as we finalize all details)
To RSVP please contact Paul Navin: (303) 638-7111 or by email at 9062pen@gmail.com Hope to see you there!
CLASS OF 1976 - 50TH CLASS REUNION
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2026
300 N Cherapa Place – 3rd Floor, Downtown Sioux Falls 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
For more information and to RSVP visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ogormanclassof1976 (More to come as we finalize all details.) Hope to see you there!
CLASS OF 1972 IS TURNING 72!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
PAVE, 5:00 pm.
Top floor inside and outside terrace, purchase your own food and drinks, no need to RSVP - Just show up for fun, food, and fermentation!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
El Riad Shrine Mosque - $72 per person. Doors open at 5:00 pm for happy hour followed by buffet dinner at 6:00 pm. Both evenings will include all three schools, LHS, OGHS and WHS.
Join our Facebook page: OG Class of '72. Contact Peggy Hayes at farmerhaze@icloud.com with any questions. And please send your email address so we can update our database. Spread the word!
CLASS OF 2000 CLASS REUNION
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2026
Blue Rock Bar and Grill at 6:00 pm
To RSVP please fill out the form below: https://forms.gle/8YKf95X58rVywepN9
We hope you can all make it!
CATHEDRAL & OG
OMAHA REGIONAL REUNION RECAP
A heartfelt thank you to all the O’Gorman High School & Cathedral Alumni who joined us for the Omaha Regional Reunion! What an incredible evening of connection, laughter, and shared memories. It was wonderful to see familiar faces, meet new friends, and hear about the journeys our Knights have taken since their time in high school.
Your presence made this event truly special and reminded us of the strong sense of community that continues to unite our alumni across the country. Thank you for keeping the Knight spirit alive—wherever life takes you!
We can’t wait to see you at future alumni gatherings. Go KNIGHTS!
Our next Regional Reunion will bring us back to the Twin Cities area in the Fall of 2026!
SAVE THE DATE!
HOMECOMING HALL OF FAME
INDUCTION CEREMONY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2026
SCAN THE QR CODE TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE INDUCTION LUNCHEON!
2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
Andrea Wilson ’03
Keaton Moffitt ’11
Connor Schaefbauer ’12
2007-2014 Girls Tennis Teams
Coached by Don and Kate Barnes
Players include: Theresa Petrasko ’10, Hannah VanDemark ’11, Erin Hoffman ’11, Meg Townsend ’11, Chandler Nielsen ’12, Taylor Reaves ’10, Katie Schwebach ’11, Mary Prouse ’12, Alexis Kosiak ’13, Abigail Kosiak ’15, Jenna Czarnecki ’14, Samantha Czarnecki ’17, Sidney Brower, Morgan Brower ’15, Mary Billion ’14, and Mira Yousef ’15
EXCELLENCE IN ARTS
Brian Billion '12
EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS
Jeff Gordon
Dr. Margaret "Maggie" (Carmody) Basche '01
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
The Soukup Family
Carl and Marietta Soukup
Jim '84 and Angie '84 Soukup
Judy (Soukup) '82 and Al Spencer '81
Joan (Soukup) Millage '81 and Mark Millage
Jay '92 and Mindy Soukup
WE RAISED $66,500 IN ONE DAY! DAY OF GIVING MAY 1, 2026
TOGETHER, AS AN ALUMNI COMMUNITY, YOU RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AND NOW ARE HELPING FAMILIES TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO BISHOP O’GORMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS! WE ARE ALL LUCKY AND PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CATHEDRAL AND OG ALUMNI COMMUNITY!
TO OUR OGHS STUDENT COUNCIL FOR HELPING US WITH THE PHONE-A-THON THIS YEAR. WE CALLED OVER 500 ALUMNI!
DECADE CHALLENGE WINNERS: 1980'S!
‘42 Doris (Caldow) Baumgardner, passed away on October 27, 2025 in Mapleton, IL.
‘42 Mark Steece, passed away on March 19, 2026 in Hoffman Estates, IL.
‘57 James “Jim” Even, passed away on January 6, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘58 Peter Barnett, passed away on March 11, 2026 in Solana Beach, CA.
‘58 Jack Ronan, passed away on November 21, 2025 in Green Valley, AZ.
‘58 Charles “Emmet” Rogers, passed away on January 30, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘59 Lanny Stricherz, passed away on March 10, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘60 Sr. Shelley Murphy, passed away on January 8, 2026 in Springfield, IL.
‘61 Kathleen Miller, passed away on April 29, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘62 Joseph Borich, passed away on February 23, 2026 in Edmonds, WA.
‘62 Steven Petsche, passed away on October 23, 2025 in Tuscan, AZ.
‘65 Betty Jo (Pierce) Lewis, passed away on November 14, 2025 in Moreno Valley, CA.
‘65 Jay Melquist, passed away on February 7, 2026 in Ponte Vedra, FL.
‘66 Judith “Judy” Gullickson, passed away on April 15, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘67 Patrick Gillespie, passed away on February 1, 2026 in Omaha, NE.
‘68 Therese (Elkjer) Goraj , passed away on February 19, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘69 David Gaspar, passed away on December 12, 2025 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘69 Anthony “Tony” Mikkelson, passed away on April 23, 2026 in Summerville, SC.
‘70 David Kemp, passed away on May 9, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘70 Laurie (Schneider) McNara, passed away on August 8, 2025 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘73 Gerald “Patrick” Ourada, passed away on March 31, 2025 in Sioux Falls, SD.
‘74 James Wilka, passed away on March 2, 2026 in Fridley, MN.
FAMILY & FRIENDS OF ALUMNI:
Beverly Armfield, mother of Nancy ‘88 and Lynee ‘85.
Margaret “Maggie” Atkins, daughter of Tom ‘73.
Fr. Hal Barber, passed away on April 13, 2026.
Joseph Cass, father of Mike ‘98 and Abe ‘00.
Natasha Gross, daughter of Pat ‘83.
Jack LeBrun, father of Dustin ‘08.
Daniel Lindner, father of Sarah ‘00, Amy, and Kimberly ‘06.
Bob John Lux, father of Anthony ‘00, Timothy ‘03, Mercedes ‘05, and Nicholas ‘07.
Michael Mahan, brother of Brian ‘80, Tim ‘82, and Michelle ‘86.
Susan Salem, wife of Joe ‘56 and mother of Wade, Tim, Brad ‘88, and Brent ‘88.
Judy Schmuck, mom of Jaymee ‘95.
Leroy Tarbox, husband of Mary and father of Teresa ‘87, Kathy ‘92, Lisa ‘97, and Diane ‘01.
CORRECTION FROM PREVIOUS RE-U-KNIGHT-ER:
Sheila Sudbeck was the class of 1988, not 1981.
“In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. Amen.”
