John Nordstrom Hometown: Benson, MN Current Home: Frazee, MN Major: Elementary Education Additional Education: Masters of Elementary Education, Moorhead State Univ. Email: nordlake7@hotmail.com After graduation, I taught 6th grade and physical education at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. In 1970 I was drafted into the Army, trained at Infantry School, and spent 14 months in Vietnam. When I got to Vietnam the Replacement Depot was looking for typists and fortunately I had taken typing in high school. I passed the test and spent my time in Vietnam as a Remington Raider (my name for a clerk typist who sat behind a Remington typewriter for 14 months). After my military service, Bonnie and I got jobs teaching in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota (1971). I taught fifth grade in the same room for 33 years. Although summers were wonderful, teaching was an exciting, rewarding, fun and challenging career. Bonnie Johnson (Class of 1969) and I got married on December 29, 1968. We adopted two children, Matt (1977) and Sally (1980). We used our summers to enjoy the lakes of Minnesota, going camping and traveling to many different places in the US. In 1982 we bought property on Lake 7 and had the shell of a log home built. Upon retirement in 2005, we sold our house in Pelican Rapids and moved to Lake 7, about 25 miles from Pelican Rapids. Some of my free time has been spent volunteering. I was a Boy Scout leader in Pelican Rapids for 29 years which meant that every Monday night found me at a Scout meeting with 15 - 30 boys. We have been active at Trinity Lutheran Church for the past 45 years. Playing trumpet in the Band of Faith has been enjoyable. I’ve advanced to 5th chair in a section of three trumpets (they have me in charge of wrong notes). After retirement Bonnie and I have become involved in the Friends of Maplewood State Park, which is located about seven miles east of Pelican Rapids. Today we enjoy our five grandchildren and have done a lot of day care for three of them. We do spend a month or so visiting Florida or Arizona during those cold winter days, but if the winter brings snow, it’s still fun to go cross country skiing. Great education and fun college years. Thank you, Concordia.
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