Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates
Merlene Olmsted
AlumNotes
Elford Radke ’63 and his wife, Norabel, live in Battle Ground, Wash. Elford is a pastor and has served the church for over 40 years and has also worked as a nursing home administrator. Elford
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1950s
Ruth (Emery) Stafford ’58 and her husband, Chuck ’57, live in Ellensburg, Wash., where she is retired. She had a long career in health care, and spent 18 years serving in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Pakistan, after which she worked in home health and hospice for 15 years. Ruth and Chuck have four children, Lori, Merlin ’87, Lauren ’84, and Marilee. Ronald White ’58 and his wife, Kay, live in Paradise, Calif., where he works as a dentist. He enjoys singing in choirs and going on
14,000 feet in the lower 48 states. He is active in the Pathfinder ministry and has participated in several medical and dental mission trips. He and Edryn have three children, Kent ’87, Debbie att., and Doug. Lillian (Konselman) Machlan ’62 and her husband, Richard ’61, live in Hillsboro, Ore., where she is retired from a teaching career at Tualatin Valley Academy. She loves to travel throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe and enjoys spending time with grandchildren. Lillian and Richard have five children: Brent, Shaunna att., Denise, Tami ’92, and Gina att. Heather (Henrickson) Perry ’62 and her husband, Dale att., live in Walla Walla, Wash., where she is a retired nurse. She worked as a nurse for 50 years and served two terms of mission service in Africa. Now she enjoys quilting, sewing, traveling, spending time with her grandchildren, and helping others. She has two sons, Troy ’88 and Dean att.
mission trips. One of his favorite memories of WWU was the time he and other members of the custodial crew went to the roof of the old Administration Building and saw Sputnik.
1960s
Fair (Ochs) Fuschetti ’61 and her husband, John, live in Rancho Mirage, Calif. One of her favorite memories was the summer she spent at Rosario. She and John have two children, Mary and Julie. William Kast ’62 and his wife, Edryn (Johnson) att., live in Dolores, Colo. He is a retired dentist who has climbed all 70 peaks over
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Wayne Christensen ’63 and his wife, Sandra, live in Sequim, Wash., along the Dungeness River. He enjoys volunteering and spending time with grandchildren. Some of his favorite memories of Walla Walla are skiing at Spout Springs and watching hockey games.
Gerald Dunifer ’63 and his wife, Caroline, live in Ferndale, Mich. Gerald has been retired for six years after a 35-year career at Wayne State University where he worked in the department of physics and astronomy. He now enjoys sailing, flying, traveling, and visiting astronomy observatories around the world. Marilyn Ruth Verabelle (Pinder) Hubley ’63 and her husband, George, live in Vernon, B.C., Columbia, Canada. She is a retired nursing professor who taught at both the College Place and Portland campuses of WWU and at the Empress Zauditu Memorial Hospital in Ethiopia. Her favorite memories of WWU are the evening worships at the women’s dormitory. Marilyn and George have two children, Stephen and Rebekah. William (Bill) Kraisosky ’63 and his wife, Joquita, live in Riverside, Calif., where he worked as the principal engineer for the Public Works Department of the City of Riverside for 24 years. Now retired, Bill enjoys traveling, golfing, and working on car projects. Bill and Jo have one daughter, Alissa.
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Alton Olson ’68 and his wife, Doris, live in Pendleton, Ore. He has taught industrial technology
for 46 years and is now teaching at Harris Jr. Academy. In his spare time, Alton enjoys showing his classic car collection. Alton and Doris have two daughters, Tracy and Melanie.
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Clyde J. Sample ’63 and his wife, Lou Ellen (Rasmussen) ’63, live in Spangle, Wash., where they are retired. Clyde worked in the food service industry for 52 years, working at WWU, Weimar Institute, and Upper Columbia Academy. Lou Ellen served as a nurse at the WWU health center, Weimar Institute, and at a hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Clyde enjoys gardening and woodworking while Lou Ellen enjoys sewing, gardening, cooking, and spending time with their grandchildren. They have three children, David, Laurinda, and Raymond att.
1970s
Judy (Westergaard) Harvey ’73 and her husband, Bruce, live in Medford, Ore., where she works as a registered dietitian for the Jackson County WIC program. She enjoys spending time with grandchildren, gardening, and reading. She has two children, Shaen ’02, and Andrew ’06. Anita (Newell) Mayberry ’73 and her husband, Paul ’71, live in Ridgecrest, Calif., where she works as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She enjoys teaching music to elementary students and participating in women’s ministry. One of her favorite memories of WWU
Helen (Godfrey) Pyke ’63 and her husband, Teddie ‘62, live in Bryant, Ala., on a small farm. She retired from Southern Adventist University after teaching writing
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and Norabel have three children, Lawrence ’80, Carol ’88, and Deanne att.
Families come first. For Merlene Olmsted ’69, being a source and voice for families has been a calling since she began her undergraduate years at Walla Walla University as a home economics major. “I can’t think of a more delightful combination of being able to combine my professional career with my religious beliefs while teaching in a public university,” Merlene says of her years teaching at a New Mexico university. As a professor in the field of family and consumer sciences, Merlene has taught subjects ranging from textiles to culinary arts, consumerism, family resource management, nutritional influences on health, and adolescent identity and relationships, among others. Merlene taught at Walla Walla University from 1977 to 1991, serving also as chair of the department. When the department was closed in 1991, Merlene began a 20-year career at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M. Outside of her classroom subjects, Merlene pursued scholarly work
for 25 years. One of her favorite memories of WWU was Pegasus club events. Helen and Teddie have three children, Gregory, Douglas, and Emily.
Judith (McDowell) Shaner ’68 and her husband, Lloyd, live in Caldwell, Idaho. She retired after a career in teaching as well as serving as principal and interim superintendent of the Idaho Conference. They have two children, Janette att., and Bryan.
is her experience in the women’s residence hall. Anita and Paul have three children, Jonathan ’05, Jeffrey att., and Janelle. Don Straub ’73 and his wife, Juanita, live in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, where he is self-employed as a counselor. After retiring from a 38-year career as a teacher, pastor, and principal, he
on issues as diverse as department assessment, group learning, sweatshop solutions, contracts with a Guatemalan apparel factory, reducing teen pregnancy in New Mexico public schools, and recruiting minority students to the field of family and consumer sciences. In addition to teaching at ENMU, Merlene was chair of both the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the Department of Elementary/Secondary Education. She was also College of Education assessment coordinator and twice served as acting dean of the College of Education. She also hosted a sixweek traveling Smithsonian exhibit, “Key Ingredients: America by Food.” Merlene has been honored for her dedication to her profession and ENMU. She was named New Mexico Family and Consumer Sciences Professional of the Year in 1997. ENMU awarded her the Spirit of Eastern New Mexico University Award in 1999 and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service in 2011. In May of this year, she received the distinction of Distinguished Emeritus Faculty.
earned a master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. Don and Juanita have three children, Kerry ’99, Kris att., and Jody att. Roxanne (Mola) Vixie ’73 and her husband, John ’74, live in Modesto, Calif., where she is a massage therapist. After a 20-year nursing career, she is enjoying semi-retirement and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her favorite memories of WWU include listening to the organ in the University Church and enjoying the campus scenery in the fall. Roxanne and John have four children, Jeremy att., Aaron ’02, Joel ’06, and Julie ’06. Elizabeth (Haynes) Hurst ’77 and her husband, James Pearman ’77, live in Alberta, Canada, where she works as a patient relations consultant. Her favorite memories of WWU include the walks from Foreman Hall to the University Church and the first gathering of black alumni. Elizabeth and James have three children, Jason, Michael, and Charece.
1980s
Delbe (Thomas) Meelhuysen ’82 and her husband, Edgar ’82, live in Joshua, Texas, where she works as a doctor. Delbe remembers the teachers at WWU “who went above and beyond the call of duty.” Delbe and Edgar have three children, Matthew ’11, as well as Mark and Daniel who are currently attending. Wilson Tam ’82 lives in Barrigada, Guam, where he works as an assistant professor of English and serves as the chair for the Committee on College Assessment at Guam Community College. He is also a deacon at the Agat Seventhday Adventist Church. One of his favorite memories of WWU is his adviser, English Professor Bonnie Eichner, and her kindness and guidance. Wilson has two children, Ashley and Allen.
1990s
He enjoys traveling and going on mission trips. His favorite memories of WWU include getting to know his great teachers and classmates. James and Lynae have four children, Ryan, Trisha, Emily ’12, and Brandon att., who is deceased. Joyce (Anderson) Wilkens ’78 and her husband, Keith ’78, live in Spokane, Wash., where she works
Raymond Anderson ’78 and his wife, Debra, live in Alberta, Canada, where he works as a farmer. His favorite memories of WWU include playing hockey and lectures from Joe Galusha. Raymond and Debra have one son, Cody att. James Moore ’78 and his wife, Lynae, live in Battle Ground, Wash., where he is a vascular technologist.
WWU is attending plays. Joyce and Keith have three children, Taylor ’07, Emily ’11, and Fletcher ’11.
as an author and artist. She loves painting, being in nature, and traveling. Her favorite memory of
Derin Scott ’93 and his wife, Shannon (Durkos) ’93, live in Hobe Sound, Fla., where Darin is a business owner, and Shannon writes Christian programs and books for children. They have fond memories of the beautiful campus and meeting each other at WWU. Derin and Shannon have six children, Micah, Aspen, Zain, Laken, Raiden, and Vann.
2000s
Mari (Ferguson) Cheney ’03 and her husband, Greg ’04, live in Ridgefield, Wash., where she works as a reference librarian at Lewis and Clark Law School. She coauthored Utah Legal Research and has written several legal research articles for professional journals. Her favorite memory of WWU was the time she spent as a student missionary in Bangkok, Thailand. Mari and Greg have one son, Peter.
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