Class Notes

by Erin Dintaman ’23

’56

Donna (Weiser) Owen of Adel, Iowa, has taught Sunday school for over 45 years and has started a program in Panama.

’60

Kathy (Fjone) Richardson teaches memoir writing, poetry, and novels at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Cincinnati (Ohio).

Rosalyn “Kay” (Haugen) Rulifson and her husband, Dennis, live in Raleigh, N.C., and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last summer.

’61 Richard “Dick” Larson received the Legacy Award from the American Choral Directors Association of Colorado, only the fifth person to have received this honor.

’65 Jim Willmore is a volunteer assistant men’s basketball coach at Iowa Lakes Community College.

’73 John Van Norman of Holstein, Iowa, is a biofeedback specialist.

’74 Leslie (Smith) Sand leads the northeast Iowa chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby and is coleader of its national Lutheran Action Team.

’76 Bob Huncosky retired after 43 years as a nursing home program specialist for the state of Wisconsin.

’79 Amy (Waalen) Hansen is the Trail Ridge store retail manager for Xanterra Travel Collection.

’81

Sheri Brenden has published a book about a precedent-setting gender equity court decision involving her sister Peg

Brenden ’76 Break Point tells the story of how two teenagers took on the unequal system of high school athletics and claimed spots on school teams before the passage of Title IX

’82

Scott Gomer of San Diego, Calif., is chief communications officer for the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Joel Lunde of Des Moines, Iowa, is the deputy director of the Iowa Department of Management.

’83

Larry Winter of Scottsdale, Ariz., is an explorer in residence at Town and Country Travel.

’84

Beth (Lee) Klein is a therapist at Firefly Counseling in St. Paul, Minn.

’85

Charlie Hoven is the catering manager for Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

’86

Tim Watson has been appointed executive director of the Springs at Happy Valley (Ore.), a 210-unit senior living community.

’88 Doug Morse of Mason City, Iowa, is an advisor at ExecHQ.

’89

Elizabeth (Leyda) Hansen was appointed chief actuary at Universal Insurance Holdings.

’90

Jean Caraway is professor of psychology at the University of South Dakota. She has received funding for the graduate psychology education program to train students in mental health care.

’91 Anne (Skow) Adix earned a DPT degree from the College of St. Scholastica and is a senior physical therapist at Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis.

Dian (Peaslee) Carmody of Norman, Okla., is the administrative director of surgical services at Norman Regional Health Systems.

Marit (Ness) Lloyd of Corona, Calif., is the director of toxicology at Ventyx Biosciences.

’92 Lisa Blumhagen has retired after 30 years of teaching. She taught in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; St. Louis, Mo.; and at the American International School of Guangzhou, China.

Jannelle (Johnson) Buisker of Forreston, Ill., is a clinical contact center triage nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jeff Markwardt was promoted to supervisor at Hawkins Ash CPAs in Manitowoc, Wis. Staci Sievert Zahn of Appleton, Wis., is a tech education teacher at Seymour High School. She was awarded the $50,000 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for teaching excellence and was named the Fox Cities Tech Ed Teacher of the Year.

’94 Neil Blackmore is the senior director of purchase experience delivery at Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee, Wis.

’95 Julie Jensen is the director of clinical informatics at Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.

Karen Ryberg of Baldwin, N.D., is the deputy director of the US

Geological Survey Dakota Water Science Center.

’96 Tonya Moe, Linn-Mar High School athletic director in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been chosen as the 2022–23 Iowa High School Athletic Director of the Year.

Theresa Nelson Williams and Scott Williams ’97 both work at the American International School of Lagos in Nigeria. Theresa is a school librarian, and Scott is an instructor in IBDP English literature and coordinator of the international baccalaureate diploma program.

’97 Lars Jensen is the director of aviation and chief pilot at Allstate in Wheeling, Ill.

Joshua Vorvick won the April 2022 Golden Pick from famed Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tenn. He released an EP, “Kinda Like Live,” a collaboration with Luther and Decorah community members, available in the Luther Book Shop. He also played at Iowa State and charity events and formed a band, Slim Whimsy.

’98 Andrea (Stockseth) Christians is the 7–12 principal for the Pocahontas Area (Iowa) Community Schools and director of the Manson Meridian Singers, a local community chorus.

Phil Hood lives in Minocqua, Wis., and is vice president of philanthropy and foundation at SSM Health.

Sarah (Pohlson) and Dustin Smith live in Grinnell, Iowa. Sarah is the director of outreach programming and events at Grinnell College and coaches girls swimming and diving at Grinnell High School. She also serves on the Unity Point Health–GRMC Foundation Board and on the Grinnell-Newburg Alumni Association. Dustin is a financial advisor at Cirks Financial Services. He is also president of the Grinnell School Board and vice chair of the Grinnell Hotel-Motel Tax Committee.

’99 Ben Larson of Maui, Hawaii, founded Next Adventure Company, which offers full-service custom adventure vacation packages.

’00 Stephanie (Jaeger) Paulson is the revenue accounting manager at ConvergeOne in Bloomington, Minn.

Heidi Torgerson is the lead pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in La Grange, Ill.

Richard Winkels of Fairfax, Va., is a member of the US Army band Pershing’s Own.

’01 Heather (Svoboda) Morris is the director of corporate communications at Pentair.

’02 Heidi (Helling) Barr of Lindstrom, Minn., is the author of the book 12 Tiny Things . Her next book, Collisions of Earth and Sky , will be released in January 2023.

Mike Bollinger of Decorah has been named executive director of Seed Savers Exchange.

Sara (Rink) Buis of Waukee, Iowa, earned an MPA degree from Drake University and is program manager for family-centered services at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Laurie (Pedersen) Geary of Edina, Minn., is a senior director at Accenture.

Ghion Roache of Nassau, Bahamas, is a senior manager with the National Insurance Board of the Bahamas.

Laura (Bartlett) Stuckey of Steuben, Wis., is an elementary principal in the Prairie du Chien School District.

’03 Katie (Woltjer) Doan is the one-stop manager at North Dakota State University in Fargo.

Andrew Ellingsen is the director of folk art Education at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah.

Darrin Geier of Woodbury, Minn., is the director of spiritual formation at the University of Northwestern–St. Paul.

Pete Hoesing of Sioux Falls, S.D., is the associate vice president for research and economic development at Dakota State University. He published an academic monograph, Kusamira Music in Uganda , in 2021.

’04 Bridget Boehmer of Charlotte, Iowa, presented “Harm Reduction Tools for Substance Use Disorders” at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Medication Assisted Treatment Symposium in Lexington, Ky., last May.

Anthony Nunez of Las Vegas, Nev., is the principal at Cheyenne High School.

Elissa Zoerb of St. Paul, Minn., is the marketing campaign manager at Bio-Techne.

’05 Muhammad Yasir Burney is a senior solutions engineer at JPMorgan Chase.

Phil Hoesing earned an MM degree from the American Band College of Central Washington University and is the director of bands at Nampa (Iowa) High School.

Kate Ingber earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and is a recruitment manager at UCARE Minnesota.

Elliot Jordan is a senior client systems engineer for Netflix.

Jeffery Miller Jr. is an assurance manager at RSM US.

Anna (Haug) Pena of Des Moines, Iowa, is a training analyst at Global Atlantic Financial Group.

’06 Sarah (Schultz) Doyle is an adjunct professor of education at Cornell College.

Holly (Wonder) Hoene is a school nurse at Dover Eyota (Minn.) Elementary School.

Amanda (Tryggestad) Nelson is the communication and member engagement manager at Ascension Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wis.

’07 Chris Angelica is the senior manager of product analytics and operations at Hireology in Chicago.

Susan (Valo) Backmeyer is the manager of management reporting within the equipment operations management accounting group at Deere and Company in Moline, Ill.

Mara Erickson is the funding coordinator at the Canadian Wildlife Service—Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Emily (Pankow) Fritz of South Barrington, Ill., is vice president of scientific affairs at the Beachbody Company.

Brian Meyer earned an MA in psychology from UC–Berkeley and an MA in information management from the University of Washington iSchool. He is a data scientist at Twitter.

Jason Rude is a teacher in New Hampton, Iowa, and is a first responder/firefighter with Chickasaw County Rescue Squad; lead sports broadcaster on 95.1 KCZE; and national oratory fellow with Ford’s Theatre.

’08 Dylan Flunker of Minneapolis is the project manager for the Gender Affirming Care in Rural and Greater Minnesota Communities program at the Family Tree Clinic.

Andrea Funke of Austin, Minn., is a staff accountant at Your Part-Time Controller.

Edwin Holmvig-Johnson is a middle and high school special education teacher at New Century School in St. Paul, Minn. Charlie Moe is the vocal music instructor at Princeton (Minn.) High School. He is also the director of the East Central Minnesota Chorale.

Kari Myers is the director of education at Des Moines (Iowa) Performing Arts.

Cora (Johnson) Reidenbach is a school psychologist for Anoka Hennepin (Minn.) Schools.

Alex (Lancaster) Schuerman is a clinical practice nurse leader at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Nicki (Svestka) TerBeest of Decorah is a refractive technician at Oneota Valley Family Eye Care.

’09 Christina Arceo of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the clinical coordinator at REM Iowa Community Services.

Adam Erdmann lives in Minneapolis and is a genius at Apple. Joel Martin is the emergency management coordinator for the Iowa Utilities Board in Des Moines.

Julian Stanke earned an MA and EdS in educational leadership at the University of St. Thomas and is a middle school assistant principal at South St. Paul Public Schools.

Katherine (Miller) Thomas is a school nurse and RN at UnityPoint Des Moines.

Adam Tulkki of River Falls, Wis., earned an MA in music education from the University of St. Thomas and is an elementary music teacher in the Hudson School District.

Joy Waughtal is a senior professional research assistant at the Colorado School of Public Health.

Mary Whipple of Minneapolis is an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Minnesota.

’10 Jacob Johnson of Irvine, Calif., is the senior product UX/ UI designer at Premiere Digital. Jess (Janezic) Oja is a nurse practitioner at Nevada Surgical Associates.

Nora Shaffer is an adjunct professor of clarinet at Concordia University in River Forest, Ill. Liz Winter is the coordinator of institutional effectiveness at Upper Iowa University.

’11 Joe Carey of Minneapolis earned an MM degree in composition from the University of Northern Iowa and is a staff software engineer at Mastery Logistics.

Beth Gonia earned an MS degree in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University and is a standards alignment coordinator at RethinkEd.

Ellie (Neubauer) Kuennen of Decorah is an obstetrics RN at Winneshiek Medical Center.

Susana Hansen of Minneapolis is the front desk manager at Fox Den Salon.

Julia Schiefelbein-Egan is a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist working in GI and primary care at the Madison (Wis.) VA Hospital.

Kate (McDonald) Sutherland is an ecology and marine biology teacher at the Rocky Hill Country Day School in East Greenwich, R.I.

’12 Sam Anderson of Minneapolis is a middle school health teacher at New Millennium Academy.

Jeff Babcock is a radiology fellow at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Lisa (Richter) Booth of Rockville, Md., is a scientist at Cellphire Therapeutics.

Tom Gerber is the assistant director of choral activities at Texas A&M University.

Betsy (Zimmermann) and Brian Gerike live in Watertown, Wis. Elizabeth is an ELL teacher, and Brian is a high school science teacher at the Watertown Unified School District.

Hannah Janaky of Milwaukee, Wis., is an experiential therapist at Rogers Behavioral Health.

Justin Marschall is an analytics and media manager at Amazon.

Kaitlin (Maas) and Sam Meyers live in Maple Grove, Minn. Kaitlin is a special education teacher with St. Paul Public Schools. Sam is the 10th-grade school counselor at Robbinsdale Cooper High School.

Therese (Thompson) Nelson of Red Wing, Minn., is a researcher at Rochester Title.

Carrie Niehaus is the school counselor for grades 4–7 at the Allamakee Community School District in Waukon, Iowa.

Anne Proescholdt of Middleton, Wis., is communications manager for the Wisconsin School Music Association.

Molly (McHenry) Sullivan of Elmhurst, Ill., is senior consultant for implementation at Cardinal Health.

’13 Andy Ambrose of Richmond, Calif., earned a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Arizona and is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California–San Francisco.

Katie Anderson of Marshfield, Wis., is a pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Jenna Mee Dosch is a member of the Frozen Broadway tour with the Disney Theatrical Group.

Alex Forbes earned an MA degree in marriage and family therapy from Saint Mary’s University in 2018 and is an outpatient psychotherapist at Nystrom and Associates.

Richelle (Johnson) Mahaffey of Des Moines, Iowa, was awarded the American Bar Association’s Fearless Children’s Lawyer of the Month Award in August for her work as a juvenile public defender.

Annie (Klepper) and Evan Neubauer ’13 live in Decorah. Annie is a pharmacist at Winneshiek Medical Center. Evan is a waste reduction and recycling educator for Winneshiek County Conservation.

Kelsey O’Leary is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Emily (Schneider) Stelken is a CT coordinator at MercyOne Dubuque/Dyersville (Iowa) Medical Center.

Ryan Turnacliff of Minneapolis is a credit officer at Prime Security Bank.

Jessie Zenchak Petersen earned a DVM from Michigan State University and is an associate veterinarian at Midland Animal Clinic in Midland, Mich.

’14 Jayne Cole of Brooklyn, N.Y., earned a PhD in the history of art and architecture from the University of Oregon and is a lecturer at the City College of New York.

Kristen Flak-Solom earned an MA degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas and is a middle school orchestra teacher in Middleton, Wis.

Katherine (Ollman) Gisleson teaches preK–3rd grade music at MFL Marmac Elementary School in Monona, Iowa.

Grace (Erie) Kunkel is the director of music at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato, Minn.

J.T. Rustad earned an MA degree in mathematics from the University of Maryland and is an assistant for competitions operations at the Mathematical Association of America.

Marissa Schuh is an extension educator at the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Brett Steelman of Ames, Iowa, is a professional school counselor with the South Hamilton Community School District.

’15 Alain Alcime is an IT consultant manager at Ernst and Young in Minneapolis.

Katie Fillmore is a project manager at Pearson in Crescent, Iowa.

Marlon Henriquez earned a master’s degree in second language special education from Roosevelt University and is resident principal at the Frank W. Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy in Chicago.

Amanda Johnson of Rochester, Minn., is an international patient appointment services specialist at Mayo Clinic.

Aubrey (Ross) Lindquist of Litchfield, Minn., is a K–5 music teacher at Willmar Public Schools.

Jenna Nelson is a senior marketing specialist for 1517 Media and was named a 2022 Star Watch Honoree by Publishers Weekly.

Aldon Severson of Lakeville, Minn., is a senior implementation manager at MDA Leadership Consulting.

’16 Alex Erickson earned a PhD in clinical psychology and is an advanced postdoctoral fellow in geriatrics within the Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System and an adjunct professor at Palo Alto University.

Paul Larson serves as pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas, Calif., and as chaplain at California State University–Monterey Bay.

Tamo Lucero is the assistant director of alumni and parent engagement at Macalester College.

Lauren Mordini and Alex Bishop ’17 live in Madison, Wis. Lauren is camps manager at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Alex is an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist at UW Health.

Erik Ohlrogge is a Wisconsin population health service fellow at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Ashley (Kappers) and Erik Queoff live in Wauwatosa, Wis. Ashley is a communications consultant at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Erik is a fitness provider at Ascent Wellness.

Nick Shaw of Minneapolis is the brand manager at Rootstock Wine Co.

Raleigh Sims of Washington, DC, earned an MA degree in public policy from the University of Virginia and is a national security analyst for the US federal government.

’17 Erin Ellefsen of Richmond, Ind., is an assistant professor of mathematics at Earlham College.

Michole Farrin of Three Lakes, Wis., is a first-grade teacher in the Rhinelander School District.

Betsy Fawcett is a management analyst at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, DC.

Rhianna (MacDonald)

Freiburger earned a doctorate of athletic training and is an outreach athletic trainer at Compass Memorial Healthcare. She was also the recipient of the 2020 Athletic Training Education Journal award for Most Outstanding Non-Research Manuscript.

Emma (Stivers) Gardner of St. Paul, Minn., is a human resources administrator at Fraser Autism Center of Excellence.

A group of Pi Sigs from the class of 1964 gathered, with spouses and friends, in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., in November to celebrate the 58th year of their graduation. The group has gathered annually for 23 years at various venues around the country. Front row (left to right): Emily (Homstad) Bodensteiner , Linda (Ladd) Messer , Barbara (Moen) Amundson ’65 , Kay Saxvik, Sharon Boyce, Linda Matter, Bonnie (Curtis) Behnken , Suzanne Birkestrand. Back row: Barry Behnken, Steve Messer , Richard Amundson , Erik Saxvik , David Kundert , Jim Matter , Dennis Birkestrand , Luther Nervig , Jim Boyce

Three Luther grads practice together at Great Lakes Dental Associates in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Shown here at their practice’s grand opening celebration on June 17, 2022, are (left to right) Linda Olson Bieri ’75 , Shaun O’Neill ’13 , and Janet (Brenton) Boyes ’09 . The frame Linda holds displays a photo of Steven Christensen ’82, who passed away after a few months into practicing dentistry in the new building with his fellow Luther graduates.

Newly minted Luther grad Megan Grimm ’22 submitted this photo, taken Commencement Weekend, of her many Luther-grad family members who celebrated the same milestone. Roughly left to right: Arthur Hovick ’68, Duane Osheim ’64, Mary (Nelson) Hovick ’68, Yvonne (Nelson) Osheim ’67, Jana (Hovick) Grimm ’95, Doug Grimm ’95, Megan Grimm ’22, Joy (Hovick) Kissel ’93, Kelly (Pustorino) Grimm ’92 , and Mike Grimm ’93

Kiersten (Hanson) Persson ’02 sent us this photo of a meet-up in Norway with Olav Skogass ’98 . She read a Luther magazine story about how he’s been weathering the pandemic and reached out because she lives in the same area. They’re pictured here at a BBQ event at Olav’s workplace. Yay for global Norse reunions!

Luther alumni celebrated the wedding of Morgan King ’18 and Joe Christensen in Alexandria, Minn., last Sept. Left to right: Robert Torgerson ’72, Ann Torgerson ’77, Gail (Gulstrand) Torgerson ’76, Jessica (Rosenblad) Chopp ’18, Morgan (King) Christensen ’18, Andrea Wagner ’18, Mariah (Olson) Trewin ’18, Sean Trewin ’18, Lyle Torgerson ’76

Laura (Peterson) Meola ’15 married Joe Meola in December 2021 and shared this festive photo of celebrating with fellow Norse. Left to right: Dietrich Jessen ’15, Kalle Akkerman ’15, Carly (Densmore) Jessen ’16, Owen Neubauer ’15, Amy Hermeier ’14, Laura (Peterson) Meola ’15, Hannah (Wilson) Loewen ’14, Alison (Smith) Lohmann ’15, Emily (Wilson) Walt ’14, Allison Bird ’15, Elaine Seekon ’14, Tanya (Meyer) Kohnen ’15, Scott Raftshol ’15, Sam Olson ’15.

Averie (Manke) ’18 and Alex Knutson ’18 married last August in Milwaukee, Wis. Bringing their Luther spirit to the celebration were (left to right): Christopher Manke ’89, Andy Johnson ’19 , Julia Trandahl ’19 , Kyle Prudhomme ’18, Emily Jacobsen ’18 , Averie (Manke) Knutson ’18 , Brigid Burke ’18, Alex Knutson ’18 , Derek Kalb, Rachel Brodeur ’18, Elizabeth DePrenger ’20, Kirsten (Christianson) Burrett ’17, Noah Manke ’20

Thomas Dahle ’75 (far left) conducted the Phipps Festival Chorus in Hudson, Wis., in its final Christmas concert, concluding 33 seasons on Dec. 4, 2022. Also in the concert were (left to right): Barb (Westacott) Letourneau ’91, Stephen Dahle ’13, Daniel Melaas-Swanson ’18 , and Mel Olson ’68

Hannah Hagarty was an overseas missioner with Franciscan Mission Service in Kingston, Jamaica, for three years and is now a permanent resident of Jamaica. She is a guidance counselor at Alvernia Preparatory School.

Myles Hynes is a senior associate at RSM, an audit, tax, and consulting firm in Minneapolis.

Emily Kuhn of Madison, Wis., is the director of education— careers and community at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County.

Dagny LeMunyon earned an MDiv degree from Bethel Seminary and is an associate pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minn.

Bethany Noltner earned an MBA degree in strategic human resource management and works in the general management leadership development program for American Family Insurance.

Matthew Peterson earned an MS degree in soil science from Texas A&M University and is an analytical laboratory coordinator at the University of Arizona.

’18

Paul Clark earned a JD and an MA degree in environmental law and policy at

Vermont Law School and is a judicial law clerk for Elko (Nev.) County.

Pilar Dritz received a DPT degree from the University of Minnesota and is a physical therapist at Rock Valley Physical Therapy in Decorah.

KT Johnson-Roets is a music teacher at East Bay Music Together in Berkeley, Calif.

Shelja Thakur is the local alumni coordinator and senior student liaison officer at Pestalozzi Children’s Village Society in Uttarakhand, India.

Sofie (Wallock) Walz earned an MEd degree in learning technologies from the University of Minnesota and is a UX/UI designer at KNOCK Inc.

’19 Alex Atal is a forensic interviewer at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Fort Myers, Fla.

Abigail (Korenchan) and Tyler Conzett ’19 live in Dubuque, Iowa. Abigail is a K–12 vocal music teacher. Tyler is a software developer and engineer at Metafile Information Systems.

Jordan DeCrow is the assistant athletic director and assistant girls basketball coach at Glenwood Springs High School in Glenwood Springs, Colo.