Summer 2022
My Dear 1956 Classmates,
This is a bittersweet letter to write, for two reasons. First, it has been a long time since my last letter in the spring of 2020. Initially, this was because of the impact of COVID. As a result, many staff members in the college’s Development Office worked from home which made it very difficult to maintain the detailed process for keeping the typical fall and spring class letters on schedule. The second reason it is bittersweet has to do with my health. I am finding it hard to make use of a laptop which impedes writing these drafts. I also find it is harder to organize material in a reasonable way. Carlyle is helping me assemble the information for this letter and type it up. However, this may well be my last letter to you as Class Agent. We shall see.
President Ward sent out a letter in April with some information on the college. Of particular interest was the comment that enrollment has continued to decline in recent years due to a decline in high school graduation numbers. Another reason that should be noted is that the traditional four-year higher education degree is less attractive now than in the past since vocational schools and career programs can be completed quicker and at less cost. As a good school, Luther has reacted with program changes – a new major in Law and Values, a new minor in Counseling, and a revision of the General Education curriculum.
The highlight for our class in 2021 was the reunion marking our 65th anniversary. It was rather atypical, though, in that it was held later in October rather than on the traditional Homecoming weekend. Spreading the reunions over the month was another way of dealing with the lingering effects of COVID. Eleven members of the class were able to attend, some of them assisted by family members. Those attending included Faith (Luzum) Fretheim, Donna (Kumm) Green, Don Hommen, Elaine (Forde) Larson, Joyce (Everson) Lee, David Solomonson, Glenda (Landsgaard) Timmer, June (Tesch) Torrison, Elaine (Bromstad) Weiner, Lois (Beaver) Wintersteen, and, of course, me. I asked Faith to emcee the gathering and Don to facilitate the sharing of thoughts and memories. They did a fine job. Our reunion was yoked with that of the Class of 1951. Only three members of that class were in attendance. Time takes its toll.
According to information from the college, our class once totaled 280 members, which included about 90 who attended but did not graduate for various reasons – marriage, going to work, or transferring. Of the remainder, 118 have passed away. Those passing away in recent months are Rhys Hanson, Clayton Hovda, Charles Kloster, Helen Knutson, James Limburg, Nancy (Beggs) Oren, Terry Fretheim, and Charles Hulsether.
I have not received any recent information from class members other than that Juanita (Zeman) Loven and Russ continue to enjoy life in Guttenberg, Iowa but deal with the typical problems of aging. Elaine (Forde) Larson is in good health and continues to spend summers in Northern Minnesota and winters in Green Valley, Ariz. Kristi (Henrikson) Thompson continues to live In Green Valley year around. Don Hommen divides time between Iowa and Arizona. And Faith Fretheim lives in Park Ridge, Ill. outside of Chicago, but occasionally travels to St. Paul where she still maintains a place and where she and Terry lived for many years while he was at the Luther Seminary. As for us, we sold our Green Valley townhouse in May 2021. Given our mobility issues the trip was too challenging to continue. Life in Northern Minnesota is nice to experience once again with four very distinct seasons, each with their special charm.
If this is my last letter to you, please know it has been a joy and privilege to do these over several years. But all good things must end sometime. So, if this is the end, thank you for providing information over the years. And embrace each precious day. June (Tesch) Torrison has indicated a willingness to take over these duties when the time of transition arrives. Meanwhile, you can send to me any information you wish to share in a future letter, and I will pass it on if I am unable to continue.
And do not forget to remember a gift to Luther, a place special in our hearts.
With fond memories and good wishes,
