In Memoriam: Potter ’61 taught philosophy for 45 years NELSON POTTER, 73, of Lincoln, Neb., died May 12, 2013. He graduated summa cum laude from Monmouth with degrees in philosophy and English, was in several musical ensembles and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. A WOODROW WILSON Fellow and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Potter received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University in 1969. Potter began teaching philosophy at the University of Nebraska in 1965. He directed the university’s Centennial
DEATHS continued from page 43 Lois Wittberger Stevens, 84, of Freeport, Ill., died Jan. 4, 2013. She majored in English and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma before beginning a 31-year teaching career. Barbara Smith Walker, 84, of Vandalia, Ohio, died Dec. 31, 2012. She graduated with a sociology degree and was a member of the Dolphin swim club and Alpha Xi Delta. She taught in Illinois and Virginia and lived in three other states, as well as Paris, France. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Robert Walker ’51.
1951 Joyce Beaumont Brace, 83, of Pasa-
dena, Calif., died March 29, 2013. She majored in music and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She spent more than 40 years in education, retiring in 1997 after receiving the Educator of the Year Award for the Southern California region. The Rev. Merle Strohbehn, 86, of Stillwater, Minn., died Dec. 28, 2012. After serving in the U.S. Navy for two years, he majored in religious studies at MC, then received his master of divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Strohbehn retired in 1990 after 36 years as a pastor, the last 25 at Stillwater Presbyterian Church. Post-retirement, he was an interim pastor at five churches. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Harriett Strohbehn, who was an MC nurse in 1950-51.
1952
Ginger Horner Bernklau of Littleton, Colo., died March 4, 2013. She graduated with a degree in Spanish and was a member of Kappa Delta. Evelyn “Dolly” Howell Ford, 83, of Carman, Ill., died June 22, 2013. She majored in physical education and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta. She taught P.E. and math for the Stronghurst/Southern school district for 25 years and was also a successful coach. Survivors include her husband, Robert Ford ’52, daughters Kathleen Ford Vitali ’76, Kristeen Ford Peterson ’81 and Kelly Ford ’85, and a granddaughter, Samantha Bundy ’12. Barbara Schultz Hirakami of Kaneohe, Hawaii, died Nov. 13, 2012. She majored in English and was retired from the Hawaii Department of Education.
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Education Program from 1974 to 1976 and chaired the philosophy department from 1980 to 1985. During his 45 years on the faculty, he specialized in ethics, aesthetics and Immanuel Kant and served as president of the North American Kant Society
Willard Roper Jr., 84, of Havana, Ill., died Sept. 17, 2012. He graduated with a degree in biology and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Roper spent the majority of his 42-year teaching career at Havana High School. Survivors include a sister, Sarah Roper Garber ’47, and his wife of 54 years. Joyce Hansen Scholten, 82, of Elk Grove Village, Ill., died May 21, 2013. She studied elementary education and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Survivors include her spouse of 62 years, Richard Scholten ’51, and a son, Scott Scholten ’08.
1953
Doris Dittrich Evans, 80, of Eagle, Wis., died Nov. 1, 2011. She studied English and was a member of Pi Beta Phi. Survivors include her husband of 57 years, William Evans ’53.
1954
Donald Robeson, 80, of Monmouth, died April 14, 2013. He majored in business administration and was a member of Theta Chi. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War. Robeson was a successful farmer. Two sisters—Ellen Robeson Killey ’49 and Patricia Robeson Ackerman ’52—preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Jeanne Gittings Robeson ’60, and a sister, Shirley Robeson Moore ’47.
1955
Roland Best, 79, of Decatur, Ill., died Feb. 16, 2013. He majored in chemistry and did graduate work at the University of Iowa. A U.S. Army veteran, he spent the bulk of his 43-year professional career at Staley Manufacturing in Decatur (now Tate and Lyle North American). Survivors include his wife of 55 years. Edith Lambers Winter, 79, of Saugatuck, Mich., died May 1, 2013. She graduated with a degree in music and was a member of the synchronized swim team and Pi Beta Phi. Winter graduated from Western Theological Seminary and was the senior pastor at First Congregational Church in Grand Junction, Mich., for 25 years. She was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Lambers Humes ’51. Survivors include her husband of 52 years.
1956 Marcelyn Clements Henrikson, 79, of
Elgin, Ill., died May 11, 2013. She graduated with a degree in English and was a member
from 1997 to 2000. A former member of the Monmouth College Board of Trustees, Potter was the son of former major league pitcher Nels Potter, who won 92 career games and pitched in the 1944 and 1948 World Series.
of Kappa Kappa Gamma. A teacher, she was also a leader in developing after-school tutoring programs. Survivors include her husband of 56 years. Eunice Richmond, 78, of Dunlap, Ill., died Jan. 15, 2013. She was a home economics teacher, worked for the Home Extension Service and retired from the state of Illinois as a senior citizen ombudsman.
1957
Arlene Goodenough Morrison, 77, of Park Falls, Wis., died Jan. 15, 2013. She studied business and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta.
Georgia Werts Ramey, 77, of Albuquerque, N.M., died June 6, 2013. A member of Pi Beta Phi, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of New Mexico. She worked at Lovelace Clinic for more than 30 years in clinical and diagnostic technology. Isabelle Muranyi Rohlfs of Northridge, Calif., died April 23, 2013. While majoring in religious studies, she was a member of Crimson Masque and Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles for 32 years. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, James Rohlfs ’56.
1958 Martha Smith Bandy, 76, of Washing-
ton, Iowa, died June 1, 2013. She studied business at MC, completing her degree at the University of Northern Iowa. She taught at Washington Junior High for 25 years. Survivors include her husband of 53 years. David Brown of Lake Ozark, Mo., died Jan. 13, 2013. He majored in chemistry and was a member of the baseball team and Theta Chi. He retired in 1992 from Mallinckrodt Group in St. Louis, where he worked for 34 years.
Roscoe McPherren, 76, of Bloomington, Ill., died Aug. 27, 2012. He graduated with a degree in history and was active in politics, serving as chairman of the McLean County Board from 1980 to 1984. He worked as a field representative for the Illinois State Lottery, retiring in 2002.
1959
Robert Wetzel of Edwardsville, Ill., died Jan. 21, 2013. He majored in business administration and was a member of the tennis and basketball teams and Alpha Tau
monmouth college magazine | winter 2014