Lowell Gorseth
Lowell graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Philosophy and English. After graduation, he received a fellowship to study philosophy at the University of Kansas. Lowell married Lois Brenden (’66) and has two daughters (Rhonda Alberts and Rhea Root), and five grandchildren. He spent his career teaching English and coaching, with the last twenty-five years at West High School in Billings, Montana. He taught Honors English and was assistant football coach, head track coach and head groundskeeper for the Billings minor league baseball team. A former student and English professor described his class: “His contagious love of literature and poetry was amazing. I can still close my eyes and see his classroom with all those laminated quotations adorning the walls. That classroom, lined with novels we were allowed, encouraged, even dared to check out and read, was where my love for literature began.” Rhona, his daughter, having taken the class, adds in a semi-unbiased way “He was a great teacher!” He completed a M. A. in Education, spent four years on Concordia’s Alumni Board, was Montana Coach of the Year in 1987 and Billings Teacher of the Year. He was active at Peace Lutheran Church and enjoyed hiking with his family. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away a year later on April 15, 1997.
James Hallas
After graduating from Concordia, Jim relocated to Minneapolis. There he married Jane Echternacht, also of Brainerd. Jim and Jane were blessed with two daughters, Libby and Jana. Jim spent most of his career with the Pillsbury Corporation, serving in Internal Audit, Sales Management, and Strategic Planning and Capital Budgeting. Jim loved to travel and to spend time with his family at their cottage in northern Minnesota. Jim died suddenly following his favorite run around Lake Harriet on June 24, 1988.
Susan Hoxeng-Simundson
After graduating from Concordia, Sue taught school in Madagascar and Texas before moving to California. There she taught English and German at San Marin High School in Novato. After marrying and raising three children, she returned to teaching English at Redwood High School, where she was much loved and respected, until the time of her death. Her passion for travel brought many experiences, including teaching in Switzerland at the Leysin American School. Sue died unexpectedly of a cerebral brain hemorrhage on June 29, 2005.
Richard Jeffers
After graduation from Concordia, Richard completed a tour of duty in the Navy, including time in Vietnam. He joined the Coon Rapids Fire Department and retired after 26 years of service. He and his wife, Connie, have a son, daughter and five grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially at their cabin in Nisswa, Minnesota. Richard died on August 30, 2007.
Donald Knutson
Don graduated with a major in Physical Education and minors in History and Political Science and was a member of the basketball team. He married Joann Slethaug (’67) from his home town, Great Falls, Montana, on September 9, 1964. After graduation from Concordia, they returned to Great Falls. At the time of his death on November 8, 1994, Don was a senior vice president with TrustCorp, a subsidiary of a Great Falls investment firm. He and two other company executives were killed when the company’s twin-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Great Falls airport. They were on their way to a meeting with Eastern Montana bankers and to conduct seminars for bank employees.
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