alumni news Michael Valleau and his wife, Rebecca, are parents of a third child, Evan. He joins sisters Bethany (3) and Kendra (22 months). Mike is currently a legislative assistant in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The family makes its home in Vadnais Heights, Minn. Miles Wurster started his second full school year at Wiggins School District this fall. He teaches grades 5-12 band and grades 7-12 choir. Wiggins is located on the eastern plain of Colorado, just off Interstate 76.
1998 Anika Jaeger and Bryan Rychner were married at Bethany’s Trinity Chapel on
August 21, 2004. Anika is the daughter of Steven (’72) and Lois (Olson ’71) Jaeger. Bethany alumni and faculty involved in the wedding included matron of honor Kristine (Baermann ’79) Jaeger; maid of honor Heather Helgerson (’98); bridemaid Amanda Jaeger (’97); groomsman Jacob Jaeger (current); Pastor Donald Moldstad (’78, MDV ’85); musicians Prof. Dennis Marzolf, Prof. Adrian Lo, Prof. Ann Fredrickson, Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (MDV ’85), Prof. Mark Harstad (MDV ’74), Peggy (Sorenson ’72) Harstad, Nathan Harstad (current), Sarah (Harstad, ’98) Dale, Jennifer Cachiaras (current), Abigail (Proeber ’03) Marozick; florists Gina (Hassler ’80) Moldstad and Sara Tacheny (’97); photographers John Schwertfeger (’62) and daughter Jill Schwertfeger (’03); videographer Gregory Vandermause
education that lasts beyond a lifetime
(’05); and DJ Matthew Wiechmann (’03). Anika is employed at Community Action Council as the sexual assault services coordinator for Dakota County and she manages a shelter for women and children in Eagan, Minn. Bryan is a police officer for the city of Burnsville, Minn. They live in Farmington, Minn., and welcome news from other Bethany folks. Their email is bugz228@frontiernet.net
1999 Terri (Sohre) Malecek graduated from MSU, Mankato in 2003 as a registered nurse. She was married in September 2003. Emily Van Hee was married to Jesse Berg of Sanborn, Minn. on December 18,
David and Shelby (Reuter) Kirschner were married September 23, 2000 at the Amboy United Methodist Church in Amboy, Minn. They are living in Amboy where they purchased a home in 2001. Their son, Brennan Karl, was born on September 15, 2004. He was four weeks premature and weighed just 4 pounds, 5 ounces. The couple gives thanks to God for blessing them with a healthy, happy little angel. Lisa (Burcham) Petersen and her husband, Ted (’03), are currently residing in Gainesville, Florida. Ted is attending USF in Tampa to complete his master’s in communication and Lisa is an assistant loan officer with SunTrust Bank. Jessica Shelvik recently spent the summer in St. Petersburg, Russia, for intensive language study and research on her master’s thesis, which she will complete in Spring 2005. She won the University of Illinois 2002 Yuro Skalnik Prize for best graduate essay in Russian and East European Studies. She will be teaching music history during the academic year.
2004. Emily currently teaches physical education/health and coaches volleyball and basketball at Madelia, Minn. Jesse is superintendent at the Farmers Golf and Health Club in Sanborn, Minn.
2000 Joshua Skogen just finished his student teaching. He will be substituting in Winona, Minn. Next fall he will consider either going to the Mankato area to teach or attending Southwest Minnesota State University to compete in his final year of eligibility in wrestling.
2001 Elizabeth (Shaw) Hansen’s email address appeared incorrectly in the last Report. Her correct email address is: jandehansen@verizon.net
2003 Jeffery Merseth and Megan Armbrecht were married at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on Friday, July 5, 2002. Other Bethany alumni in the wedding party were Katie Recknor (’01), Heather Look (’01), John Moldstad (’02), Adam Holtz (’01), and Aaron Ferkenstad (’02). Jeff and Megan received their BA degrees from Bethany in 2003. Megan will graduate with a master’s of music-applied voice from MSU, Mankato in May 2005. Jeff is taking Greek classes at Bethany and plans to enroll at the Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in the fall of 2006. They currently reside in Mankato, Minn.
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