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Esther Stene (Krueger)

I just had a fun conversation with  both Wendy and Gregg Ulrickson and gave them the website address.

Wendy said she would get on the website and let people know what events they are planning to come to.

I also talked with Joey Eidem's wife last week.  Joey works super long hours (usually 12 hours a day).  With all

the storm damage he is very busy traveling the United States. It sounds like he does appraisals of the actual damage done for the company he works for.   He has limited time off.

Esther

Lonnie Ellison (Simonson)

Great, Esther! I'm glad you got ahold of Gregg and Wendy, since we definitely want to see them at the reunion!

To eveyone on the website, try to post your photo and add information to your profile. I'll promise to do the same....

Mark Madson

Dear Class of 1964 - I'm writing to share sad news and am using this forum in hopes of reaching as many of you as possible as quickly as possible. I had a lovely conversation with Jon Pederson's wife Kathy today. She called because she and Jon had been having funeral planning conversations last week. Jon had asked if it might be possible to have a choir sing "Beautiful Savior" by F.Melius Christiansen, Jon's favorite song from Academy choir days, at the funeral. John asked Kathy to call to see if I would be willing/able to put together a pick-up choir of Academy choir alumni and other friends, family and acquaintances of Jon who sing and would be able to attend his funeral. A couple days after Kathy and Jon's conversation he took a turn for the worse. When Kathy and I spoke this morning she was anticipating the funeral might be late July/early August but she called again this afternoon to say his situation has already progressed even faster and their hospice doctor had estimated it may now only be a matter of days or a week based on what they were observing.

I'm seeking help from any of you who live in the Twin Cities vacinity or know you might be able to come and sing at the funeral or know of other choir alumni from other classes that live in this area that I could contact. Some of you, of course, may not be able to make any decisions until the date of Jon's funeral is known so I will share that here when the time comes. I will sincerely appreciate whatever help any of you are able to give either by coming to sing or by sharing names of potential singers.

Jon and Kathy's two daughters both live in South America and will be coming home for the funeral. They also have two sons, one who has been living at home with them during this period of illness to help with care for his dad. The other lives in Indiana, so there will be quite a bit of planning needing to happen before the funeral date is set. Kathy seems calm and at peace with the reality they are facing but they all will certainly value and be comforted by our prayers and concern.

Even as we live in the light and in the shadows throughout our lives, I'm still looking forward with fond anticipation at the thought of seeing all of you and sharing so many stories together again.

Blessings, Mark Madson

Mark Olson

Hello Everyone:

Thank you Mark (Madson) for posting the information concerning Jon Pederson.  I moved my mother to MSP a year ago, and she has glaucoma (as well as macular degeneration), and Jon has been taking care my mother for the last year, until closing his practice approximately 2 months ago.  I consider it a privilege to have had my mother cared for by Jon.  He has wonderful interactions with his patients.  I would like to get in touch with his wife and talk with her, do you have contact information for her?  I will certainly participate in a choir to honor Jon, and hope that I can do so.  I am out of town on the following dates:  June 27-29 and July 3-8, but will be in town the rest of the time until our reunion.  So please let all of us know when we will be needed to honor Jon.  I so wish that Jon could be at the reunion - we spoke about it several times at my mother's appointments with him.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to let each of you know that I am very excited to see each and everyone of you.  I also want to urge everyone to contact those that have not responded to the Academy website to do so.  There are many that have not done so as yet!  This is a very special event in our lives and I would hope that most everyone could attend our 50 year reunion!  This will occur only once in our lives, so I hope that as many of us as possible will join us in Souix Falls to celebrate this wonderful event.  The experience at Augie enriched my life so much and I am sure that all of you feel the same.  Much of the "core" of who I am originated and developed during those early formative years at Augustana Academy.  

I have gotten some notes from Esther Stene, and she has noted that we live very close to one another.  That is true Esther.  I moved from Eagan 3 years ago to Rosemount subsequent to my divorce and selling my home.  I bought a townhome in Rosemount and my two youngest daughters also lived with me until they left home to experience life on their own.  I moved in with my significant other into her home last fall in Burnsville, very close to Apple Valley.  I am confident that we live no more than 15 minutes by car from one another, Esther.  Once both Linda and I retire we will spend late spring, summer and early fall in Minnesota; and late fall, winter and early spring in Tuscon, AZ where I now have a town home.  

My children are all out of home now.  My two youngest daughers are here in Eagan, MN and are working.  Hopefully, both will decide to go to college in the not too distant future.  Laura is 20, and Kristine is 23 (she has 1.5 years of college experience thus far).  My children by my first marriage are Maren (40), Christopher (38) and Amanda (soon to be 34).  Maren is now a Physician's Assistant and is a hospitalist on the Maryland penninsula (Salisbury, MD), Chris is a carpenter (builds beautiful log homes/cabins) in Ely, MN and is my only married child (one grandson, Eli who is 7), and Amanda lives on the Northshore of MN in Grand Marais and is a part-time student at a community college.

I just started a new job in the medical device industry.  A close friend of mine that I worked with ~11 years ago developed a position for me at the company where she works as the Director of Clinical Research.  (Who else would hire a 67 year old in this industry??).  It is a great job and I enjoy the work.  However, I do think quite a bit about retirement and plan on retiring by the fall of 2015.  

I have been blessed with a wonderful life.  I hope that is the same for all of you!  I am looking foward to seeing all of you in approximately one month.  Again, lets urge others to come to the reunion who have not signed up as yet!  I recently found an obituary (2012) for Mark E. Mennis in Missouri.  Mark was from Toronto, SD and went to the Academy for only one year and was my roomate for my first year at the Academy.  I know he eventually entered the Air Force and made a career of the military and settled in that part of the country.   

It is late in the evening, so I must sign off for now.  See all of you soon!!

With warm regards,

Mark Olson

Mark Olson

To All:

I have heard that some may not have my correct contact information, which is as follows:

Home Address:  10904 Ridgewood Court, Burnsville, MN  55337

Cell Phone:  651-402-3775

Home email address:  olsonole@comcast.net

Business email address:  molson@spineology.com

I would enjoy hearing fron any and all of you!  Karen Wallem, I would especially enjoy hearing from you - I do not think I have had any contact with you since graduation from the Academy.  I have traveled to Washington, DC on business - if only I had know that you lived in Columbia!  My oldest daughter lives in Salisbury, MD, but goes to DC quite often to visit friends (old housemates).  

Best to All,

Mark

Lonnie Ellison (Simonson)

Hi Mark Olson (and Everyone),

You requested Joey Eidem's e-mail and phone number. I think I have the correct phone number here.

520-371-9371

His e-mail is fjeidem@msn.com

Hope a lot of you would write to Joe and let him know we'd miss him so if he isn't at the reunion.

Lonnie

Shirley Beitelspacher (Meddaugh)

Hi Mark Olson ( and all) ,

You probably won't hear from Karen Wallem until after she returns next week from her travels in Sweden and Norway.  I'm sure she will be pleased you mentioned her.

I look forward to seeing you all in July!

Shirley

Beitelspacher

Ellie Watland

What sad news that Jon Pete died last night.  He will be missed, but remembered at our reunion.  

Peace and comfort to his friends and family.

Ellie

Lonnie Ellison (Simonson)

Yes, it is so sad that Jon had to leave us so suddenly! I'm so glad his family had the updates on Caring Bridge so we could communicate our goodbyes to Jon and let his family know how much we admired him. Bless his memory!

On another note, please remember to register with Augustana College for the events of the reunion weekend, using this link. Through this site, you can pay for the banquet, brunch, class booklet and class picture if you wish.

www.augielink.com/academy.

Lonnie Ellison (Simonson)

REMEMBER TO BRING ANY MEMENTOES THAT YOU HAVE FROM OUR ACADEMY DAYS !!! BRING THEM TO  OUR DINNER AT MINVERVA'S.

Marlys Hanson/Nelson (Hanson)

Phyllis Locken and I were in school together from 8th grade through Senior year at Augustana Academy. We were confirmed together at Scandinavia Lutheran Church, rural Aberdeen, SD. We were great friends and shared many things together through those years. Phyllis was my roommate at the Academy our Freshman and Sophomore years and we sang in a trio with Rana our Senior year. I was in contact with Phyllis the years following graduation also and miss her Christmas letters and photos very much. God bless her memory and talents she so graciously shared with all of us. Miss you Phyllis!

Joanne Jackson (Burke)

Hi Marlys,  I enjoyed reading your comments about Phyllis. She was a great gal!  I was fortunate to have her for my big sister when I came to Augie for my senior year.  I think is it so neat you were confirmed in the same church.  Was your Father the Pastor there?

  I wish I could see you at the reunion.  I will miss you.   Blessings, Joanne

Rana Limbo

Hello, Marlys,

I had forgotten that you and Phyllis were old friends from growing up. I do remember our trio--we sang at your church. You and Joanne in these posts today have captured her spirit--she was truly beautiful. I was looking for photos today to bring along to the reunion, and I found one taken at her wedding. It was of my sister, Jane, and me--Jane played the violin and I was a bridesmaid (as she was for me). 

Thank you for this beautiful tribute--sure wish that you could come to the reunion. However, your tribute to Phyllis brings you there in spirit. Your friend, Rana

Marlys Hanson/Nelson (Hanson)

Yes, Joanne,  My father confirmed Phyllis and I. We were the only two in our confirmation class so we were a nervous wreck not knowing which questions we would have to answer in front of the whole congregation. We knew we would get every other question. Now days Confirmation isn't run like that. Too bad huh. 

Jim Gisselquist

Oops - I see that Lonnie has already posted the time and location of the '64 Ensemble practice - Humanities Building Room 173 at 4:00PM on Friday.

Jim

Jim Gisselquist

Another request ----

Wouldn't it be fun to see some old HS (and other) classmate pictures? 

I plan on scanning some pictures from old Sagas and put together a slide show which we can view at the Friday evening dinner.  My thought would be to have it running on a projector in the background for people to view at their leisure during the evening.

The slide show would be much better if you would send me pictures that would be included in the slide show.  Please send either black and white or color photos of shots that would be of interest to you and to other classmates.  The more the better.

See you in 11 days.

Jim

Mark Madson

I want to reinforce Jim and Lonnie's encouragement for as many classmates as possible to sing with our "Class of '64 Ensemble" and the reunion choir. These are open to everyone who's interested, even if you weren't in choir before. I can send scanned copies of the music (for the ensemble and/or for the choir) to anyone who wants to sing and would like to take a look at the music in advance. If you don't want to practice before you come and would rather just wing it, that's ok too. The point is to have fun and, of course, to sound as good as we can with minimal practice. If you would like copies of the music to print out please contact me at mmadson@zionanoka.org. I will need your email address to attach the music since I can't attach anything through the "reply" option on our website. Singing, or not, is ok, your preference. Just know that you're all welcome. I'm looking forward to seeing each of you next week!

Mark

Lonnie Ellison (Simonson)

Kathy Pederson's address, if any of you wish to send her a sympathy card.

Kathy Pederson
7029 Lanham Ln
Minneapolis, MN 55439

Louise Asper (Johnson)

I love this e-mail my mom received from Margret (Dolly) Guldseth. Her mom was the youngest sister of my grandmother (ten girls in the family) so is really my dad's first cousin. She and John both attended the Academy. Her daughter Sharon with husband Gary visited us a couple of years ago when they were stateside.

Hope you enjoy this letter:

Dear Sally,

Louise just sent me your new e-mail, so today I can start wishing you ahead of March 26 a very happy birthday and new year.

I think you remember me as Dolly. My real name Margret is usually misspelled to be the normal Margaret spelling. Here in Israel my name is Margalit. I have a few more names and am learning to respond to just about anything! As grandma I'm Savtah for two grandsons that live here in Israel, also Yaya (which is a Greek way of saying grandma) and for our son's little girl in Africa, I'll most likely be Bibi when she starts talking. Our son married a few years ago at age 40 and now has a beautiful little girl, 7 months old. He married a Somali background Tanzanian who speaks Swahili as her first language.

I still fondly remember a visit to your farm long years ago. I played with your girls in that playhouse that had once been home for Charlie and Laura, or was it your first home? Of course I remember your hard working Charles, and as a young adult, I had a class at California Lutheran College with his brother, Wally Asper, in Thousand Oaks, CA where I also met my husband, Randy. That was all many years ago! And now soon (in May) I will be turning 68.

When my parents lived in Hendricks, MN after they (Gus and Elsie) came back from missionary work in Africa, I attended Augustana Academy in the same class as Louise. By the way, you and my mom almost share the same birthday. Hers was March 29th. March is also a birthday month for our daughter, Sharon, and her husband, Gary. Our Sharon was born in Cairo, Egypt on March 11, 1977 (and delivered by my husband, Randy, before the doctor arrived!). Sharon is married to a Gary Alley from Florida. Gary's birthday is March 27, and soon 2 years ago he and Sharon had a baby boy in Bethlehem on Gary's birthday. Gary's grandmother in Florida has the same birthday and will turn 87 on March 27th.

Here in Israel today is the happy Purim holiday, with kids and adults dressed in costumes. On this holiday the Old Testament book of Esther is read. As the story is read the people listening hiss and boo and pound on tables when the villain Naman is mentioned and when Mordecai's name is mentioned the people shout their happy yeah's, whistle and clap their hands.

Randy and I have lived in Israel since 1996. It has become a home away from home in the States. Though we've never owned a home in the States, I guess we're still Californians. We have one married daughter in Fresno, CA (Rachel and her husband, Brian) and Gary and Sharon living here in Israel in Jerusalem, across town from us. Rachel's husband's mom was raised in S. Dak, I think even near to Alcester (did I spell that right?). Brian's folks are Mennonite background and worked for years in France. Brian's dad is Canadian. Brian came to Israel to do his grad studies and met and married our Rachel here. Our other two kids also got married in Israel. If you're up to it you can see what keeps us busy- our website is www.biblicallanguagecenter.com

Well, dear lady, may the Lord bless you. You have lived a full life and I'm sure have so many of your own stories to tell. Would love to see you after so many years. Please greet Cherri and Nancy.

More another time, Dolly

Mark Madson

What a great letter Louise! Thanks so much for sharing it with the rest of us! Fascinating life Margret and her family have.

Marlys Hanson/Nelson (Hanson)

Thanks Louise for sharing the letter from Margret. Been thinking about her with all the unrest in Isreal after finding out she is living there. Hope Margret and her family remain safe and will continue to correspond with us Auggie classmates. Also send some photos on her profile.

Esther Stene (Krueger)

Louise, thank you for sharing the letter from Margret.  I sent Margret an e-mail when I was contacting classmates about our reunion.  Here's what she wrote in an e-mail.

"Thanks for your interest in our work.  It sounds like you visited our website.  For years Randy and I were with Wycliffe Bible Translators, working in Sudan.  Our kids went to the AIM (Africa Inland Mission) American system boarding school in Kenya where all three graduated from high school.  After Wycliffe, we were a few years in Kenya and Chad where Randy worked with United Bible Societies.  In 1996 we moved to Israel, and since then Randy has been teaching and developing Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek teaching materials.  For most of our years here we have worked with Bible students and translators from all over the world.  Until recently our students have been on kibbutzim in the Jerusalem area while taking our courses. More recently we have taught some courses in the States also, doing 2-6 week-long courses.  Both our daughters and their husbands are teaching with Randy and we have a growing group of students who are already or are becoming teachers.  Yes, it is a very rewarding work to see Bible students able to read and study the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew.  I have mostly done more supportive tasks but sit in on classes a lot of the time and help a few students one on one.  Randy and I have 7 grandshildren and often I've needed to be part of grandchildrren care.  Now at 67 I need to finally sit down more!  In recent years we have traveled more.  Our son and wife and their daughter live in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where Jonathan is a pilot.  One daughter and husband and 4 kids live in Fresno, CA, where our son-in-law teaches at the Mennonite background Fresno Pacific University.  Our other daughter and husband are here in Jerusalem with their two small boys.  Both parents are working on PhDs at Hebrew University in Biblical studies as well as teachng with Randy.

We have been with many visitors who have come to Israel down through the years.  Most of them wonder why they didn't come sooner!  Seriously, this is a great place to visit.  We've been here 18 years now and it still feels like home to us.  There, of course, are some challenges to living here but all in all Israel is an exciting place to be.  We're thankful for good health which is why we've been able to stay on here.  There are safety issues in this place, but the news often misrepresents the realities here.  It may sound funny but bad driving and road accidents are two of the biggest safety threats here. More could be said but need to close.  Thanks for writing."

Lonnie Ellison (Simonson)

Thanks Esther and Louise for sharing these message from Margret! She and Randy are doing amazing work and it's great to hear about it this way, since Margret isn't going to be at the reunion.

David Melby

Dolly Guldseth indicates that her parents lived in Hendricks, Minnesota when they returned from serving as missionaries in Africa.  My family moved to Hendricks in 1966, where my father served as the Pastor of the then ALC church until 1980.  That move occurred soon after my sister, Marilyn, graduated from the Academy in 1966.  I remember driving Marilyn to her Freshman enrollment and orientation at Concordia College, Moorhead, while my parents were moving into their new home in Hendricks.  Marilyn and I came to the Academy at the same time in the fall of 1963.

Jim Gisselquist

PICTURES AND SINGERS!!!

Thanks to those of you who have sent pictures - they're great. 

Now.....it would be great if more of you would send pictures as well.  The more we have the more fun it will be to watch.  I'd like to include pictures of as many of the class mates as possible. 

Please keep those pictures coming - send them to me via email at:  jimgiz@gmail.com. 

Thanks - see all of you in 7 days.

Jim Gisselquist

P.S.  We also currently have 14 singers in our "Class of '64 Ensemble".  We could always use more singers, so please let me know if you'll be able to join us.  Practice is at 4:00PM on Friday in the chapel.