2018 Winter Re-U-Knight-er

A publication for the Sioux Falls Catholic Schools community & alumni.

Volume XXXVI • Issue 2 • Winter 2018

How Do We

Retain the Best?

Our mission... to form a community of faith and learning by promoting a Catholic way of life through Gospel values and academic excellence.

Sioux Falls Catholic Schools 3100 W 41st St Sioux Falls, SD 57105 President: Kyle Groos Alumni Director/Editor: Carol Barnett Nesbitt, ‘80 605.575.3360 Director of Development: Susanne Halverson Gale ‘94 605.575.3342 Executive Director SFCS Foundation: Michelle Meinen Katen, ‘87 605.575.3362 Admissions / Recruitment: Jenni Struck 605.575.3358

www.sfcss.org

Go Give OG Day is a daylong giving challenge for our alumni. Each year, we need to raise over $1.4 million in tuition assistance funds to help students in our Sioux Falls Catholic Schools. We can’t do this without YOU, our awesome alumni. Many of our families couldn’t enroll their kids in our schools without this critical help. Most of them only need just a little bit of help to make the numbers work. But with one in every four students in our schools in need of help, GO GIVE OG Day is essential to give them the financial aid they need.

You Make a Difference!

On Tuesday, May 1st, we will be soliciting donations—online and over the phone—and conducting a social media campaign to help us reach our goal. We’ll be having class challenges, special drawings and fun videos throughout the day.

DIGITAL AMBASSADORS We are also looking for “Digital Ambassadors” from each class to help us spread the word. If you are active on social media and would like to help, please contact Carol in the Alumni Office at 605-575-3360 or via email: cnesbitt@sfcss.org.

We need YOUR HELP to make this a success!

To receive your Re-U-Knight-er via email, send a request to: cnesbitt@sfcss.org 2

More info will be coming to your mailbox soon, so watch for it and mark your calendar NOW. When we come together, we can do amazing things. Let’s see what we can accomplish together! What can we do in a day?

#GOGIVEOG

Tackling the challenge of

RAISING TEACHER PAY

For decades, our Sioux Falls Catholic Schools teachers have worked for salaries that are significantly lower than their public school counterparts, all while being challenged to not only teach their general subject areas, but to share and incorporate their faith into their teaching. In fact, our average salaries are 20% lower than the Sioux Falls Public Schools and Brandon, SD. With an increasing shortage of teacher candidates statewide, and other area school districts continuing to raise salaries for their staff, the challenge of recruiting and retaining quality teachers is growing.

These are just a few of the SFCS teachers, many of whom are alumni, who are making an impact on our students.

Some have been teaching in our schools for decades, others for just a couple of years.

Front row: Patrick Frankman ’98 (OG/Christ the King), McKenzie Jones Docken ’09 (St. Mary), Margo Halverson Smith ’92 (Holy Spirit), Jill Curley Earll ’00 (St. Katharine Drexel); Row 2: Ken Lindemann (OGHS), Sarah Clayborne Gaster ’07 (St. Michael) Zach Cole ’11 (OGJH), Nolan Cleary ‘09 (OGHS); Row 3: Ruth Moneke Bordewyk ’00 (OGJH), Ben Koch ’04 (OGHS) and Tessa Wilka Arechiga ’07 (St. Lambert).

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TEACHER AND STAFF SALARY INITIATIVE Two years ago, SFCS launched a massive effort to raise $500,000 so that we could increase our teacher and staff salaries by 5% with the hopes that tuition and increased enrollment would add another 5% for an historic increase.

Every SFCS family was asked to consider donating over and above their tuition payments which would go exclusively to teacher salaries. Hundreds of our families stepped up and paid amounts above the cost of their child’s tuition when they were registering their children online for the coming school year.

As a result, we were able to increase teacher and staff salaries by 9% for that following year, but with the legislation that passed for public school teachers the very same year, it did not close the wide wage gap. However, it did keep us from falling further behind and was a huge step in the right direction. The staff was incredibly appreciative to see the SFCS community rally for them.

The challenge is that it isn’t a one-time solution. We need to raise $500,000 every year to sustain the increase given to our teachers while we also work to accomplish a long-term solution.

Are we losing too many of our most effective teachers because we can’t compete in terms of salaries?

HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW We hope that our families will once again consider paying additional dollars above the tuition rate when they register for the next school year. All of these pledges go directly to support the incredible staff of the Sioux Falls Catholic Schools. There are several ways to to do this:

1.

2.

3.

Pledge the full tuition rate.

(the amount that would be charged if we didn’t have parish support)

Agree to a donation amount that can be paid at the same time as the regular tuition payments.

$500,000 $400,000

$300,000

(Example $50 for the 10 payments is a $500 gift)

Donate in June and July when no regular tuition payment is due.

$200,000

$100,000

We currently have $140,000 for the 2018-2019 school year.

If we can raise another $360,000, we will have met our goal for next year.

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OUR LONG-TERM SOLUTION...

WITH A CHALLENGE! Our long-term goal is to have an endowment of $20 million in order to sustain this significant pay raise for our teachers and staff. We currently have secured endowment gifts and pledges totaling $3 million. The great news to share is that we just recently were contacted by a donor who would like to give a $200,000 matching gift for those willing to make a new pledge or gift towards this endowment effort. All new gifts have double the impact! The time to act is now so that we can secure the matching dollars by the end of this school year.

Michelle Katen ‘87, Executive Director of the SFCS Foundation, continues to meet with donors who are interested in making significant gifts towards meeting that goal, either through immediate gifts (cash, stock, etc) or through their estate plans, trusts and annuities. Through the SFCS Teacher Salary Endowment, your gift will help provide ongoing support for SFCS teacher salaries with an impact that will last for generations. “Teachers hold the key to a successful school system—a system that helps build quality individuals who go out to their communities and contribute in meaningful ways to the world around them. No building or computer or science lab can do that,” says Jackie Rola Schuler ’97.

If you’d like additional information or would like to visit with Michelle about helping our teachers, call her at 605-575-3362 or email her at mkaten@sfcss.org.

We know our teachers are doing incredible things in the classroom with our kids. The extraordinary results of O’Gorman’s annual ACT scores demonstrate what an excellent education our students receive. It culminates at the high school but is built through the strong foundation of education at our elementary and junior high schools.

If we were to pay our teachers based on their results, our SFCS teachers should be the highest paid staff in the five state region.

ACT COMPOSITE SCORES - CLASS OF 2017 (99% TESTED) 26 25

24.9

24 23 21.8

22

21 21 20

O’Gorman

South Dakota

Nation

Won’t you prayerfully consider helping with this critical effort?

THE TIME IS NOW.

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What’s up at CAPERS (COMING SOON!) CAPERS, the O’G Concert Choir Variety Show fundraiser, will be Monday, March 26th at 7pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the box office from 7:30-9:30am, M-F, at O’Gorman or by calling 605-575-3344.

STATE CHAMPS Five O’Gorman teams took home state titles last year, and in December, the championship plaques were hung in the gym. Congrats to boys and girls golf, boys and girls basketball and girls softball.

VESPERS The O’Gorman Choirs put on their annual Vespers performance right before Christmas break this year. The Concert Choir, Mixed Chorus, Girls Chorus, Chamber Singers, and All-State Chorus members took part in the prayer service which included Advent songs and prayers.

They ended the night with the traditional performance of Hallelujah Chorus and invited O’Gorman Choral alumni on stage to sing with them. It was the perfect way to prepare for the Christmas holiday!

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SAVE OR SHAVE With your help, we raised $20,210.39 during our Save or Shave fundraiser to benefit O’Gorman teacher Julie Benson and her family as she continues her battle with cancer. Students, families and alumni were asked to put money in one of 10 different jars, with eight class and two staff representatives. Whoever raised the most money would have their head shaved but, in addition, if any of them got $774 or more in their jar (a dollar for every student at O’G), they would also have their head shaved. ALL 10 raised over and above that amount, so all 10 had their heads shaved in a special ceremony, then presented a big check to Julie and her family. Thanks to ALL who participated!

A SEASON OF GIVING In an effort to help the underserved, O’Gorman students gathered thousands of items to donate to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House guests in December. Hundreds of stockings and dozens of boxes filled with items for children and adults so that each guest at the homeless shelter would have a Christmas stocking filled with items on Christmas morning. Personal care items included toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant, but stockings also included small gift items. The drive also brought in needed items for the house itself, including coffee, toilet paper, detergent and other things to help them in their mission of serving the homeless.

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Knight Notes ELEMENTARY KNIGHTS AT O’G All six SFCS elementary schools were invited to O’Gorman to experience varsity girls and boys basketball games in January. The events included games, prizes, hoop shoots and a Knight’s Challenge, with schools competing against each other to take a trophy back to their school. A fun “Knight” for all!

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HELP WISH MISS MAC FAREWELL Jan McEntee is retiring from St. Mary’s Elementary School after 50 years! We want to make it a fitting finish to remember!

If you had Miss Mac or have a fond memory you’d like to share, we’d like to hear from you! Please write a note, story or letter for us to compile and give as a gift to her.

Letters can be sent to:

St. Mary School - Attention: Madelyn Grogan 2001 S. 5th Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Emails can be sent to: magrogan@sfcss.org

OGJH STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS First Lego League is an international program that helps students discover the fun in science and technology while building self-confidence, knowledge and valuable career and life skills. The State FLL competition was held in January with 35 teams from across the state competing. Sioux Falls Catholic Schools had several teams competing. O’Gorman Junior High’s team, called the OGre Llamas, took home the 1st place trophy and will move on to Nationals in May in Arkansas.

Students are judged in three main areas: 1. robot design and strategy 2. teamwork and how well they use the core values of the program 3. innovative solutions - identifying a problem within the theme and fixing it.

The OGJH team’s problem was how to fix automated toilets in public restrooms so they wouldn’t ‘ghost flush’. As they worked on their project, the OGJH students even visited with the head toilet sensor engineer at Kohler (that’s a real thing).

He told the team that he couldn’t find any problems with their design and was impressed by their work. Congrats to the team and best of luck at Nationals in May!

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You’re Invited...

We have lots of fun events coming up and want you to join us!

Here are the events and how you can get involved.

Shamrock Run – March 24, 2018

Fun for the entire family, hosted by the O’G Athletic Boosters. A 5K competitive road race or a 2 mile fun run/walk. There is also a Leprechaun Run for kids. We’re looking for walkers, runners, volunteers and sponsors. Chip timing. Trophies for adult winners, medals for every kid runner. Lunch catered by Big Rig BBQ.

Extravaganza “A Night For All Knights” – April 14, 2018

EXTRAVAGANZA 2018 A Night For All Knights

Make plans to join us for this exciting night of live auctions, great food and friends!

This fundraiser welcomes parents and supporters from all eight of our schools.

If you cannot attend in person, you can still bid on the incredible silent auction items from your computer or mobile device. We also have a couple of great raffles including the chance to win $10,000. We’re looking for people or businesses that would like to donate auction items and auction experiences (i.e. concert or event tickets). We hope you’ll join us!

Golf Classic - May 11, 2018

A great event for alumni, parents, ANYONE who likes to golf and have fun! We’ll have a morning session of either 9 or 18 holes, and the afternoon session will all be 18 holes. Grab some friends and get a foursome together, or have us put you with some other fun golfers. Your registration includes driving range, green fees, cart rental, contests, lunch and dinner. Prizes awarded to top golfers and teams.

40th Annual Bob Burns Dakota Bowl – September 8, 2018

This is a big one, folks! The 40th annual Dakota Bowl! We’re already planning some super fun things so hope you’ll get this on your calendar now. Families, students, alumni and thousands of supporters gather for this all day fun event. Highlights include tailgating, music, food, skydivers, fireworks and a special commemorative t-shirt. Gather your friends and families for a fantastic day of fun and football at the 40th Bob Burns Dakota Bowl!

These events help build our SFCS community and help create excitement for our students, families and alumni. All eight of our schools will benefit from the proceeds of these events. If you or your business is interested in sponsorships for any of these events, contact our Director of Development, Susanne Halverson Gale ‘94 at (605)575-3342. More details at www.sfcss.org under the tab “Get Involved.”

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www.sfcss.org

SFCS CELEBRATES NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK The last week in January, all eight of our schools in the Sioux Falls Catholic Schools system celebrated National Catholic Schools Week. This year’s message was “Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

Students celebrated throughout the week with special event days, including Crazy Hair Days, guest reader events and faculty vs. student competitions!

All eight of our schools, as well as St. Agnes school in Vermillion, gathered for the annual All Schools Mass. Younger students sang “This Little Light of Mine” and our SFCS mission song. What made this year’s event so special is that it fell on Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Students representing all the parishes in our system carried candles in a processional and placed them in front of the altar. In his homily, Bishop Swain touched on the light Catholic education brings to our students.

Perhaps one of the best taditions that happened was after a basketball game between O’Gorman and Aberdeen Roncalli. The two teams knelt on the floor and prayed together as a fitting example of sportsmanship.

It was a week filled with celebration and joy for all of our Catholic school students. Bringing all of our Catholic school families together throughout the week is always a perfect way to illustrate how Catholic education helps build a community. Thank you for being a part of our SFCS family!

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HOW HE GOT TO CARNEGIE HALL Schmaderer finds fulfillment at Legendary Venue - Used with permission: the South Dakotan and Emily VanGerpen

Joseph Schmaderer (O’Gorman Class of ’89) is currently the director of operations at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in psychology; supplementing his education with a passion for the arts and desire to make a difference.

Like so many graduates, though, he wasn’t sure where to start.

“I came out of college not entirely knowing what the future held for me,” Schmaderer said. “I knew that I was a hard worker. I just needed the opportunity.”

The Midwesterner never thought he would find his place in the nation’s hub for artistic and musical entertainment. But 20 years later, that confidence and work ethic have elevated Schmaderer from an entry-level employee to managing business operations for one of the most prestigious performance venues in the world. What he calls business operations are more than the usual board meeting and budgets – although there’s plenty of that, too. He manages the 750 live performances and recordings during each concert season as well as a 110-member staff that includes three labor unions.

As much as he loves the nearly constant activity, Schmaderer hasn’t forgotten his roots. Even now he remains in shock of the journey that took him to New York City, and appreciates the education, dedication and life experiences that got him there.

His artistic endeavors began at age 5 with piano lessons, the same age at which he started playing soccer. He continued both through high school, when he also picked up choir, theater and oral interpretation.

He attended All-State Chorus and The American Legion Boys State and won awards, scholarships and state championships along the way. For him, merely being involved wasn’t enough—he was actively involved, employing the same intensity in each challenge he took on.

When it came to higher education, though, Schmaderer reached a crossroads. He couldn’t decide between the arts or business as a profession to pursue. Fortunately, he had both his mother and the universe looking out for him—two forces with which he has learned never to argue.

After evaluating long-term goals, he determined that his skill set and ambitions best aligned with business administration; his mother saw him being happiest in some form of theatrical management role.

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Photo by Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

Schmaderer didn’t just take a step toward fulfilling his goals; he dove right in. He devoted the next four years to making the absolute most of his educational experience and sharpening his already marketable skills. In combining both arts and adventure with the business administration program, he struck a triad that became the theme song for his future endeavors.

Photo by Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

The business curriculum introduced him to an unanticipated love for business, numbers and analyzing problems. Between that, his psychology minor and other electives, he received a well-rounded education that allowed him to pursue additional interests and explore new ones such as literature and poetry.

Then came the extra-curricular activities. Having always been interested in the arts, Schmaderer joined the USD Chamber Choir and an independent Strollers group. Having always possessed an adventurous spirit, he traveled throughout the country in educational exchange programs.

Upon graduation, he secured a management position with an insurance replacement car rental agency in Sioux Falls focusing on sales to insurance adjusters, body shops and mechanics. His superiors noticed an obvious propensity for hard work and dedication, and promoted him to manager of a branch in Sioux City, IA. After about nine months there, however, Schmaderer noticed that despite all he had learned by being in sales and working with a variety of customers, he faced a lack of personal satisfaction in the business.

With that he decided it was time to take his skills and degree on an adventure and make a difference in the quality of music education. He took a vacation somewhere more conducive to his creativity: New York City. And 20 years later, the vacation still hasn’t ended.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been hard work involved, however. Schmaderer found a job to get by while he was in the area before stumbling upon an entry-level position at Carnegie Hall in 1997. Once again, his abilities and determination quickly caught the attention of his employers. By 2007, he had worked his way up to being the director of hall operations – just in time to help manage the building’s $225 million Studio Towers Renovation Project.

Each day since he began has been its own challenge, but in the best way possible. The schedule spontaneity and diversity make for days that go from addressing human resource matters to catching an orchestra rehearsal.

“Working here is an adventure in itself,” he said. “But I absolutely feel like I was meant to be here. The universe knew it before I did, my mom knew it before I did—this is exactly what I was meant to be doing.”

The director is still in awe of the way everything fell into place, and still gets chills every time he walks onto the hall’s main stage; it’s a feeling that never gets old. He has built a successful career in an environment that gives him personal fulfillment, essentially reaching the epitome of job satisfaction. Looking back on everything he’s accomplished, Schmaderer is humbled by the thought of how it all started.

“My biggest accomplishment in life has been an internal awakening,” he said. “It’s been a long learning process to discover who I am and how I’ll make my contribution to this world.”

Schmaderer may have traded the rolling plains for towering skyscrapers, but he remains grateful for the adventure that took him there. He eagerly anticipates the years to come, knowing full well that he’s found the role he’ll continue to fulfill for the rest of his career.

Photo by Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

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y Fosha

Twin Cities Area Regional Reunion April 5, 2018 • Surly Brewing Co. @ 6:30 pm • Meet fellow O’G and Cathedral Grads from the Twin Cities area • Network with fellow alumni

• Hear what’s up at O’G

• Enjoy apps on us

• Have a fabulous time!

More details to come. Watch your mailboxes for info on how to RSVP. Get your alumni friends together and join us.

Questions? Email Carol Nesbitt in the Alumni Office: cnesbitt@sfcss.org or call 605-575-3360.

Upcoming Class Reunions Class of 1968 – 50 Years – September 21 & 22, 2018 September 21 & 22 at the Holiday Inn City Centre (downtown). More details to come. Watch for a mailing coming soon!

Contact the Alumni Office at cnesbitt@sfcss.org if you don’t get the mailing and would like to attend. Your reunion contacts are Jim Cero at: jimc@rentall-inc.com, Jo Koetzle Cero at 605-339-3376 or Jeanne Barnett Kangley at 605-331-4518.

Class of 1988 - 30 Years - June 29-30, 2018 Details still being worked out, but Friday night is at Shenanigans. Contact Molly Jo Van Meeteren at Anjelic6@hotmail.com or call her at 605-366-1525.

Class of 1998 – 20 Years - September 21 & 22, 2018 Save the date! O’G Class of 1998 twenty year reunion will be held the weekend of September 21-22, 2018. More details to follow through Facebook event or contact Carol Nesbitt in the Alumni Office at cnesbitt@sfcss.org with an updated email/ mailing address to pass on to reunion coordinators.

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O’Gorman - Cathedral

Alumni Hall of Fame Academics - Arts - Service - Athletics

Have you witnessed or been impacted by an alum who has given of his/her time in service to their community? Do you know of someone who has excelled in athletics while at O’Gorman or Cathedral, or in the field of academics? Do you know of someone who has done wonderful things in the arts (in high school or since then)? This is YOUR opportunity to nominate him/her for the O’GormanCathedral Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Alumni Hall of Fame will once again honor alumni for their excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, in service or for their work in their community (job-related). You have the opportunity to nominate someone you think is worthy of recognition in one of those areas. PLEASE note that if an alum has already been nominated by you for any of these awards that the nomination remains in our files and will be considered again each year. You do not need to re-nominate.

Each of this year’s recipients will be honored at this fall’s Homecoming Mass, football game and at the Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet that day. Watch for your May issue of the Re-U-Knight-er to find out who this year’s inductees are and how you can get tickets for the banquet. All are welcome to honor the new inductees.

Nomination Form Nominee’s Name: Class Year: Nomination is for:

Academics

Athletics

Arts

Service (service can be volunteer or job-related)

Activities related to this nomination (involvement, list of accomplishments, awards, etc.):

Other supporting evidence/reasons this person should receive an award:

(Use additional paper if needed to provide more information on your nominee)

Nominator’s name:

Daytime phone or e-mail:

Please remember that you MUST provide supporting evidence our committees can use to determine winners of these awards.

It is difficult to research the many names that are submitted, so we rely on your research to aid in this process. If names are submitted without additional information, it is unlikely that your nominee will be given true consideration for an award. Thank you!

* Nominations must be received by March 30th in order to be considered by the various selection committees.

Mail to: Alumni Office, 3100 W. 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57105

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’57 Catherine Sechser Larson is now retired after working in the medical technology field. ’65 Greg LaFollette was recently named to Accounting Today’s list of the top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. Greg retired from the executive team at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants subsidiary, CPA.com and now serves them as a strategic advisor, reporting directly to the CEO. He practiced in Sioux Falls for 23 years. He was inducted into the Accounting Technology Hall of Fame in 2011 and also participates annually in the Accounting Thought Leadership Symposium, an invitationonly gathering of the top 25 awardwinning, critically acclaimed CPA’s in the country. Greg travels extensively, but when in Sioux Falls he offices with Eide Bailly, LLP. He is also a volunteer with the oral interpretation team at O’Gorman, for which we are very grateful! ’76 Jim Shaeffer and his wife, Vonda recently opened up a Do-ItYourself art studio in Sioux Falls at 26th and Marion Road called Board & Brush Creative Studio. Known for building relationships through the experience of creating works of art together, Board & Brush offers a unique, creative, and fun experience.

“Our workshops are all instructor-led so every project is perfect. Customer appreciation, birthdays and corporate events are more fun at Board & Brush!

Sign up at boardandbrush.com/ siouxfalls.” Jim and Vonda would love to have alumni come experience their new business!

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’82 Kevin Curley recently accepted Command of the 114th Maintenance Group of the South Dakota Air National Guard. F-16 fighter aircraft and equipment readiness is the mission of the Maintenance Group, so he is responsible for those noisy jets flying around Sioux Falls and the 450+ airmen who maintain them. This new position included a promotion to Colonel (O-6). January 2018 marked 36 years of membership in the South Dakota Air National Guard for Kevin! In addition, he and his wife, Daneen (McGuire ’82 – pictured here with Kevin) welcomed two additional grandsons to their lives, for a total of four grandchildren! ’83 Greg Jamison is running for mayor of Sioux Falls! Greg is proudly supported by his wife Beth (Esco) Jamison ’84, son Daniel Jamison ’06 and daughter Jessica (Jamison) Baltazar ’08. If you would like to know more about why Greg is running or if you would just like to get to know him better, you can e-mail him at Greg@ JamisonCompany.com or call him at 605-351-7443. Check out Jamison For Mayor on Facebook to follow the campaign updates! Election is on April 10, 2018. ’97 Amy Tiede earned her BA in International Relations and a minor in French from Minnesota State University–Mankato, Class of 2003.

She works for Ocala Orthopaedic Care.

Email: t_amy78@hotmail.com.

’00 Lisa (Heiberger) Abbott writes, “Our family welcomed Cayden Michael Abbott on November 3rd weighing 8lbs 15oz and 21” in length. He joins his older sisters Olivia (7) and Grace (4) who are completely smitten!” Lisa’s husband is Jeff. ’05 Miranda Phelps married Jason Nolte on December 1, 2017 at St. Joseph Cathedral with Rev James Morgan officiating. “Our wedding party included my brother Rob, and ’05 O’G alumni, Katie Harwig Herrboldt, Kelly Fleming Tolley and Laura Staebell Buller. I am employed

by State Farm Insurance. Jason is a 4th generation farmer with Nolte Farms.

We are at home in Webster, SD. Check out our website: NolteNuptials2017.

WeddingWoo.com.” ’07 Katelyn (Delaney) Rife writes, “I got married on June 24th in Lincoln, NE to Jonathan Rife. Also, in August I started a new job. I work for the University of NebraskaLincoln and I am the Personnel Generalist in the HAPPI Business Center.”

’08 Matt George and his wife, Kelsey welcomed twins Kane Michael (6lb 5oz) and Merritt Marie (5lb 6oz) on Oct 18th! ’08 Kelsey Halstead graduated from the University of South Dakota and is working at Express Employment as a recruiter. She and her husband, Barry Hilton, have one son, Henry. Email: Kelsey.Halstead1990@hotmail.com. ’10 Meagan Turbak is experiencing life in New Zealand, after leaving her job as a graphic artist for the Sioux Falls Catholic Schools the past several years. #justasmalltowngirl #keepexploring

’13/’13 Thomas Motz and Alexis Kosiak married last June. “As far as I know, we are the only O’Gorman couple from our class! Fun back story: We became best friends during 7th grade at OGJH and stayed best friends until we started dating our sophomore year of college. Thomas actually proposed at the O’Gorman Chapel (“before John Konz did it too”, yells Thomas from the kitchen), and Fr. Haggerty said our wedding Mass.” Thomas graduated from the University of St. Thomas last May with a BA in Physics, and Alexis graduated from Emory University also in May with a BS in Chemistry. She started medical school at USD Sanford School of Medicine in Vermillion and Thomas is working at Avera. They live in Sioux Falls.

Mini-Reunion The Cathedral Class of 1952 held a mini-reunion last fall.

’11

Alex Hey writes, “In November, I released my book Eugène de Mazenod: A Saint for Today.

It is available on Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

I also released two poetry collections in 2017, Poems I Found in my Prayer Journals and Brainthoughts. Both are available on Amazon.” ’11 Noah Pierce was selected to participate in the USA Games for Special Olympics next July in Seattle, WA. Noah is currently attending Augustana University as part of the Augie Access program. ’12/”12 Kirsti Skuza and Tyler Kappenman married on Nov. 18, 2017 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Alumni attendants included: Kiley Skuza ‘14, Kassidy Skuza ‘16, Samantha Kappenman ‘11 and Mikayla Kappenman ‘15. Kirsti is a primary nurse for an internal medicine provider at McGreevy Main clinic.

Tyler is a project manager for First Rate Excavate.

Standing (L to R): Fran Synsvoll and wife Marilyn, Joan Forrette Middendorff, Carol Bird, Rich Baker (sitting) and standing in back: Charlotte Larscheid Oster and husband Bob.

Standing (L to R): Marj Smith Tapken, Carol Bird, Marilyn and Fran Synsvoll, Joan Forrette Middendorff. Front Row: Vonnie and Jim Shields.

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* Full obits can be found online at www.sfcss.org/alumni

FORMER STAFF:

Gwen Valkenaar volunteer math tutor at O’Gorman for many years, died January 14, 2018 at the age of 99.

ALUMNI:

‘42 Dr. George Louis (Lou) Barnett died November 19, 2018. Survived by 10 children: John ’67, Jim ’67, Margaret Hooton ’68, Mary Catherine Zahller ’69, Bob ’70, Joe ’71, Richard ’73, Bill ’75, Francis ’77 and Martha Lyons ’81; 23 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Don Barnett ‘49. Preceded in death by his wife, Maggie, and seven siblings: Sheila, Barbara ’37, Mary Kate ’39, Jane ’41, Patricia ’45, Jack ’47, Bob ’49. Memorials may be directed to tuition assistance at Sioux Falls Catholic Schools, 3100 West 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

‘42 George “Tom” East died August 22, 2017. Survived by his wife, Leona; sisters Betty and Joyce ‘61; children: Judy, Nancy, David, Sarah, Mary, Jean, Greg ‘76, Kathy ‘80 and Lori; stepchildren: John, David, Matthew and Cathy; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Preceded in death by siblings: Dick, Joan and Loretta, a son, Paul and stepson, Mark.

‘43 Mary I. Burbank Wood died November 2, 2017. Survived by her children: Lynn, Grace, John L., and Joan; five grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Preceded in death by her husband, John and son, Charles.

‘44 Patricia McConnell Balas died March 4, 2017. Preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; daughter, Joanne; siblings: Harold McConnell ‘45 and Geraldine Bezanson ‘50; and a granddaughter, Marissa. Survived by her children: Jerome, Jeanette, and Maureen; five grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren.

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‘44 James “Terry” Anderson died December 23, 2016. Survived by his children: Mary, Jim, Joe, Ruth, Sharon, Kevin, Bruce, Bridget, and Janet; 15 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, daughter, Janie and brothers, Joe and Ed. ‘46 John Devlin died October 5, 2017.

Survived by his children: Tim, John, Dan, Mary and Vince; 12 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife, Jean ’48; three sisters, Mary ‘44, Jeanine and Anne ‘50; two great grandchildren; and son-in-law, Dave.

‘47 Robert Vincent “Bob” Erickson died November 4, 2017. Survived by his wife, Mary Jane; children, Robert, Kevin, James, Michelle; 11 grandchildren; his sister, Marlys Zimmer, ‘43. He is also survived by his brother -in-law, Don Futrell, ‘49.

Preceded in death by his sister, Colleen Futrell ‘50.

‘51 William F. Fleming died June 30, 2017. Survived by his six children, Julie, Theresa, Mary, Ann, Beth and Paul; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings: Bob ‘53 and Joanne.

‘51 Nancy Even Sheley died October 6, 2017. Survived by her children: Holly and Rick; siblings: Judy ‘55, Jim ‘57, Barb ‘60, Bill, Ginny, Don, Charlie and Elizabeth; five grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

‘51 Donna May Callahan Chambers Pasco died January 4, 2018. Survived by her children: Steven, Dianne, Theresa, Susan, James, Mary and Sharon; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by four sisters, three brothers, her son Gregory, and granddaughter, Melissa.

‘52 Jerauld “Jerry” Crowell died December 5, 2016. Survived by his wife, Carol; children: Vicki, Rene, Lisa, Veronica, Teresa and Greg; 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; siblings: Betty, Pat, Donna, Jim and Barbara. Preceded in death by siblings: Max, Edward and Jean Willey ‘46; sons Jay and Gordon.

‘52 Ron Eastman died November 16, 2017. Survived by his sister, Marilyn Granum ‘47 and sister-in-law, Inez Eastman; his children: Jennifer, Stacy and James; nine grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife, Judy; siblings: Dorothy ’39, Margie Lyman ’42, Gordy ‘44 and Robert ’50; in-laws: Maxine McIntyre, Bud Granum, Charles Lyman and James McIntyre.

‘53 Mary Mercia Macheak KruegerFromm died May 25, 2017. Survived by her children: Julia, Rebecca, Robert and John; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson; sisters: Katherine, Carol and Janet. Preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Krueger and Joseph Fromm.

‘53 Rich Baker died December 19, 2017.

Survived by his children: Jean, Laura, William, Steven, Carolyn, and Brian; 21 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; siblings, Condy ‘53, Terry ‘66, and Barbara Kolb ‘56, Annie Strizich ‘61; brother inlaw, Tom Kolb ‘64 and sister in-law Kathy McMaster Puthoff ‘70. Preceded in death by his wife Roberta; a son David; brothers Gene ‘51 and Patrick ‘69; sisters in-law Evelyn and Charlotte; brothers in-law, Jim Kolb and John Kolb ‘62.

‘53 Vincent Donelan died October 6, 2017. Survived by his wife, Marianne (Pyper) ’56; his children: Steven, Terence, Patrick, Catherine, Thomas and Paul Donelan ‘85; 20 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; siblings: Bev ‘50, Jan ‘54, Jim ’57, Joseph ‘59 and Joan ‘60.

‘54 Thomas A. Ryan died October 21, 2017. Survived by children: Sandy, Steven, Mike, Ann, son-in-law Steve Marin; seven grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sisters Sharie ‘55 and Kathleen ‘59; brotherin-law Orlo; sister-in-law Lois. Preceded in death by his wife, Connie and daughter, Carolee.

‘54 Nancy Ann Noll Schenk died October 9, 2017. Survived by her husband, Martin; children: Cathi, Theresa, Wendy, Billy, Michael and Patrick; eight grandchildren; one great grandson; two siblings, Sally ‘56 and Terry. Preceded in death by siblings, Betty ‘57 and John ‘60.

‘55 Dr. Thomas J O’Hare died March 14, 2017. Survived by his wife, Mary; children: Thomas, Laine, Francesca, Sheilagh; seven grandkids.

‘58 Dennis Clifford died December 5, 2017. Survived by children: Charles and Clorice; siblings: Ron ‘60, Jerry, Joan and Pat; two grandchildren. Preceded in death by siblings: Mike, George, Jackie, Charles, Mary, Marjorie, Colleen and Delores.

‘58 Mary Denevan died October 24, 2017.

Survived by her brother, Jim ‘55. Preceded in death by her brother, Patrick.

‘59 Catherine Larsen Christianson died October 1, 2017. Survived by her husband, Rodney; daughters, Pam and Kari; daughterin-law, Lisa; seven grandsons; sisters: Donna and Jane. Preceded in death by three brothers, a sister and her son, Rodney.

‘62 Thomas J. Staudenmaier died November 25, 2017. Survived by his wife, Barbara; children: Thomas, Jennifer and Anastasia; brothers, Charles ‘55 and Bill ‘59; sister Charlotte ‘70; brother-in-law, Jack Lovett; sisters-in-law, Iris Staudenmaier and Nancy Reetz Winness ‘73; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by siblings: Herb ‘52, Virginia Lovett ‘57 and Margaret Pickart ‘58; sister-in-law Vicki Reetz ‘65, mother-in-law Betty Reetz and brother-in-law Jeff Reetz ‘80.

‘63 Mary Anderson Breit died February 23, 2017. Survived by her husband, James F.; her children, James A. ‘90, Lance ‘91 and Virginia ‘97, SD; 9 grandchildren; two brothers, Tom ’67 and Mark ‘77; five sisters, Jeanie ’58, Joanie, Virginia, Colleen ‘69 and Lian ’72; brothers-in-law, Don and Rick.

Preceded in death by brother, Marlin ‘65; and a brother-in-law, Jerry Ralston.

‘67 Brian Curtin died October 14, 2017.

Survived by his wife, Mary Jo; daughter, Melissa; his siblings: Linda ‘68, Maureen ‘75, Sharon ‘78 and Paul ‘81. Preceded in death by brothers Rex ’74 and Bruce ‘71.

‘69 Janine Ball Welsh died October 22, 2017. Survived by her husband, Michael; children: Sarah, Deirdre and Nate; six grandchildren; one sister, Chloe ‘58; sisterin-law, Sue. Preceded in death by one brother, James ‘63.

‘71 Thomas Kiley died September 11, 2017. He was survived by his daughters: Kate, Mary and Lucy Evans; sisters; Kathleen ’67, Nancy ‘72 (who died less than two months later); a brother, Jon; a grandchild, Max Benson.

‘72 Nancy Kiley Hess died November 5, 2017. Survived by her husband Dennis; three children: Benjamin, Josef and Anna; two grandchildren; a sister Kathleen ‘67, her brother, Jon. Preceded in death by her brother, Tom ’71 (he died two months prior to Nancy) and an infant son, Alexander.

‘73 Viola Crowell Carroll died October 12, 2017. Survived by her husband, Jon; children: Melissa and James; a sister Cathy ’74. Preceded in death by her sister, Amelia ‘76 and brother Robert.

‘82 Joseph “Joe” McGuire died December 12, 2017. Survived by sons: Matt and Andrew; his mother, Donna; six grandchildren; siblings: Timothy, Teresa, Michael McGuire, Kathleen Godfrey ‘87, Patricia Huizenga ’88 and Mark McGuire.

‘86 Genie Heller Krull died October 18, 2017. Survived by her son Tyler; father Eugene; sister Laura ’84. Preceded in death by her mom, Vivian.

FAMILY:

Maggie Barnett, wife of Lou ’42 (who died a week later); mother of: John ’67, Jim ’67, Margaret ‘68, Mary Catherine ‘69, Bob ‘70, Joe ‘71, Richard ‘73, Bill ‘75, Francis ’77 and Martha ‘81. Memorials in Maggie and Lou’s names may be directed to tuition assistance at Sioux Falls Catholic Schools, 3100 West 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

Myrna Headrick, mother of: Kenneth ‘65, Charles ‘67, Randall ‘72 and Dawn ’80.

Ed Simmons, husband of Colleen (Tracey) ‘47; father of: James, Brian, Sheila and Monica.

Fairy Bentz, wife of Gene; mother of Jay ’78, Gina ’80 and Nancy ’82.

Marilyn “Maxine” Hagan, mother of: Kathy ‘70, Maureen ’75, Sheila ‘80, Mike ‘69 and Pat ‘73.

Geneva Hauck, mother of: Denny ‘74, David ‘78, Judy ‘67, Bonnie ‘69 and Bernie ’76.

Gerry Bunkers, husband of Donna; father of John ‘82, Kelly ’83, Mike ‘91 and Jeremy ’99.

Vickie Marnach, wife of Michael; mother of Nicholas ’00, Joseph ’02 and Rebecca.

Fred Hendrickson, husband of Beverly, stepfather of Emerson Nordmark ’84.

Brian Connor, son of Sandra (Schwartzle) Connor ‘63 and the late Thomas Connor ’63, brother of: Erin ‘89, Wendy and Dan. Mark Crowley, husband of Kathleen (Dargen) Crowley ’67; father of Jay, Kim and Patty.

Pat Daw, mother of: Cynthia, ’73, Elizabeth, David, John, Sarah and Jessica.

CORRECTION:

In the last issue, we listed Patrice Banbury Tunge (sister of Annie Banbury, who passed away) as being from the Class of 1973. She is actually from the Class of 1967. Our apologies.

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