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Send a paragraph (or more) giving an update on your life to Karen Olson.
Tell about your family, hobbies, interests, travel, etc., etc..

Your classmates want to know all about you!

LucilleAamodt	Joseph Alms	Darla Bemis	Donald Bemis	Robert Bunce	Doris Colburn
Janet Cooke	Jerome Delong	Ralph Ducklow	Joan Freiberg	Ruth Hojem	Fred Koehler
Victor Langer	Peggy Lansing	Wanda Lynum	Wayne Lynum	David Madson	Gary Madson
Barry Moran	Dan Quilling	Sue Ringrose	James Rutherford	Clarence Schuch	Mary Teigen
Marilyn Thompson	Dorothy Timm	Linda Timm	Gary VanDeList	Richard Wilhelm	Harold Wilk
Patricia Wood	Orlan Youngren

Orlan Youngren

   After surviving high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, graduating in the spring of 1960 with a BA degree and a major in Biology.

   In the summer of 1960 I was married to my hometown sweetheart, Rita Noterman (Class of 1959). We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. In the fall of 1960 I was drafted into the U.S. Army. As you can see, 1960 was an eventful year for me! I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA, for the duration of my active duty, working as a medical lab tech at the base hospital. Rita was able to join me and we lived off base in nearby Salinas.

   Returning home in 1963, I was employed as a scientist on the civil service staff at the University of Minnesota, where I worked for 40 years, officially retiring in 2004. However, I continued to work part-time at the University until 2008 before retiring completely.

   In 1966, we bought an old house in Stillwater, MN, where our two sons were raised. Our oldest son, Mark, currently lives near San Francisco where he has been working for LucasFilm. However, he has just accepted a new position in Minneapolis and so will be returning to this area soon. Our younger son, Eric, lives in Boulder, CO, where he is co-owner of SoBo Homes, Inc., a design/build company that specializes in home remodeling.

   Rita and I have six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to fourteen years. We have lived in our home in Stillwater for 44 years and have no plans to move anytime soon.

Victor “Junior” Langer
    In August of 1954, I joined the Naval Air Reserves, served 8 years, was only on active duty for electronics training in 1956 and then was an aircrewman on anti-sub planes and later on a helicopter. This experience provided a foundation for my career in the computer area first with UNIVAC and college at River Falls eventually led to a career in education. In 1961 I met the love of my life Karon Polvi from Cloquet, MN and we married 8 months later on the day of my discharge from the Navy. We are celebrating our 48th anniversary, have 2 sons: Tim and Rick, 2 daughters: Kristine and Teresa and 10 grands. I retired in 1994 from 32 years in education: 2 years as H.S Math, Physics and Chemistry teacher in Tripoli, WI; 3 years as Math and Electronics teacher; 27 years in administration at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Karon was a stay at home mom until she became the college “scholarship fund” for our children by selling employee benefits insurance to small businesses. She retired in 2000.
    One of the things our family enjoyed was river camping, boating and looking at river property. We eventually came across a Mississippi river front, flood plain lot filled with dredging sand in Diamond Bluff, WI. After 4 years of dealing with the DNR and local authorities we were issued a building permit. (Can you believe after the 1942 S.V. flood with 8 feet of water in our house I would build on a river?) In 1996 I became the ”builder” of our Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home and we now enjoy our sandy beach and have our cruiser (Wright On Ol’ Man River) docked right in our backyard ready to take off. With our bicycles on board we have a good time visiting the many unique river towns and cities.
    We love to travel and enjoy Dixieland Jazz (especially “Old Man River”) so seek out jazz festivals on our boat (and other travels) and especially enjoyed a jazz cruise on the “American Queen” paddle wheeler from New Orleans to Natchez a few years ago. We try to do an international trip each year, usually independent of tours, explore communities on bikes and mix with the locals. We were not brave enough to go on our own to China or Australia/New Zealand and the Amazon so enjoyed guided tours on those trips. We rented and piloted a river cruiser in a southern France channel along the Mediterranean Sea and again on the Shannon River in Ireland to experience river life in foreign lands. It was awesome! We sailed on 2 late 1800’s style Tall Ships as crew members in Elderhostel programs. We also took our family to Mexico for Christmas 2001 and are looking into a European family trip for our 50th anniversary. Anybody have any ideas???
    I look forward to the annual family deer hunting trip with VanDeList and Wilhelm clans. We occupy 3 deer shacks in Barnes, WI. I gave up the killing aspect 30 years ago but carry a gun and enjoy the outings. I hunted Moose and Elk with my sons in CO, NM and Finland and Wild Boar in Estonia.
    We live year-round in Diamond Bluff appreciating all 4 seasons and winter sports of skiing, hiking, snowmobiling etc.----- not so aggressively anymore, but like to get out there. We invite you to share our river life and German/Finnish heritage with us, so stop by or call and let us know you are going to be in the area. The beer tapper on the patio (in summer) and our sauna are available to enjoy as well as the continuously changing view of the beautiful Mississippi River. 715-792-2544

Ruth Hojem

  After our graduation in May of '55 I spent the summer babysitting and relaxing before entering Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In the fall of '56 I transferred to Augsburg College in Minneapolis and graduated from there in '59 with a degree in Social Work. I worked in Foster Care and Adoptions at Lutheran Welfare in Milwaukee from '59 to '63. There I met and married my husband Ted Peterson in '62. We moved to the Minneapolis area in '65 and after living in Edina, Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Apple Valley, we now live in Rosemount - actually a suburb of St. Paul.

   I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home Mom while my husband, working in sales, traveled internationally. We have three children, Craig (born in '63), Kristi (born in '65), and Brett (born in '68) and six grandchildren.

   We have done some traveling together (Norway, Europe, Hawaii) but our travels now take us to Austin, TX where our oldest son and wife live with our two oldest grands and to the Florida panhandle for six weeks in the winter. (The oil spill may change that destination for us!) We enjoy lots of time with our other two children and four grands living in the area - ball games, concerts, school plays have become the norm!! There's nothing to compare to being Grandparents!!!

   I do enjoy reading about what all of you have done over the years and look forward to seeing you in August!

Clarence Schuch

Hi: Class of 55

   I guess we still live in the dark ages, as we still have no desire to get on the internet. But seem to be still surviving pretty well without it. Maybe when we are "old" and have nothing else to do.   

   We are still keeping busy with our businesses. I'm still working with our boys in the concrete business. We've added a couple grandsons to the mix. Although I don't get down and dirty much anymore, I make a darn good "go-fer". Then we have a storage-shed business in the Adams/Friendship area. Our cottage is there and we have a big lawn to take care of besides the repairs at the storage sheds. So I keep out of Nola's hair pretty much of the time.
    Nola (Mondor-Class of '56) still does the bookwork for both companies. That keeps her mind active. And she still walks 3 miles a day and so far that has kept her body in shape. Other than the normal blood pressure and cholesterol we are still pretty healthy.
    Our family is pretty much the same. We acquired a new grandson on April 6, 2009. It's pretty different as the other three are 21 and 18 (twins). Kind of nice having a little guy around again. Well, not exactly a little guy, he weighed 10lbs -5 oz. Mama was more than happy when he was finally born.

   This year has also had some real sad times in our life as we lost our son-in-law the 20th of March (heart and cancer) and then ten days later Nola's favorite uncle (Lawrence Bock) passed away. Our daughter is doing okay though as time is beginning it's healing.
    We don't do a lot of traveling other than our weekly trip to our cottage in the summer time and our yearly trip to Arizona for 3 (or more if l'd have my way) months in the winter. I didn't get any fishing in this year as the lake I fish on had been drained and it was just filled and was becoming "fishable" but we had to come back to be with our daughter and son-in-law. And seems like I'm always too busy to do any on our lake at the cottage. I did get a fair amount of bike riding and a little concrete work done in Arizona though. I'll just have to make up the fishing next winter.
    We are looking forward to going on the web site (on the daughter's computer) and seeing what every one else is doing. Hi to all - stay healthy and will see you at the class reunion.
Clarence Schuch (and Nola)

Ralph Ducklow

   After graduating from SVHS, I joined the Navy and served aboard the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN CVA39 out of Mayport Florida for 18 months. I sailed the east coast and Mediterranean for three tours. I married my wife, Joan Ingli (Class of '57) of El Paso. We moved to River Falls after being discharged in 1957. I worked as a clerk at the River Falls Post Office, then transferred to city carrier. I retired after working 34 years for the USPS.
    I have three daughters, Debbie of Amery, Darla of River Falls , Deann of Hudson, six grand kids: Stacia, Nathan, Shana, Ross, Kyle, (my 2010 state wrestling champion at 152#) and Shelby. I have 2 great grandkids, Lexi and Peyton.
    After retiring in 1991, I spent my time gardening, fishing, going to Vegas, and spending time with my family.
    Joan died in 1996 of cancer at the age of 56.
    Eight years later, I met Ginny at the local coffee shop. We married in October of 2004.      Besides following Kyle to all of his wrestling matches and tournaments (can you tell I am just a little bit proud?), I still garden, do some volunteer work (Meals on Wheels, picking up cigarette butts, paper, cans, etc., on Main Street), go to casinos, and help a friend with her campground in Sturgis, So. Dak.

Wayne Lynum

   The November after I graduated from SVHS I joined the Army. I was in Colorado Springs, CO for 6 months and then spent 11⁄2 years in Neu Ulm, Germany. I married Rita Traynor ('58) and together we were blessed with four children; two boys and two girls. They are all married and have now blessed us with a total of nine grandchildren, ranging in age from 6 years to 19 years . (This includes a set of 6 year old twin girls.) Todd & Naomi live in Willmar, MN; Perry and Susan live in Apple Valley, MN; Kathy & Mike live in Woodbury, MN; Lisa and Scott live in Crystal Lake, IL.

   Last summer Rita and I celebrated 50 years of marriage. I worked at 3M for 34 years before retiring in1999. We lived in St. Paul during the early years of our marriage. In 1965 we built a house in Afton and we have lived there ever since.
    When our children were young we did a lot of traveling in the continental U.S. Since then we have been to Hawaii, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Japan, China, Costa Rica and Mexico. We’ve also spent time in Arizona during the winters since our retirements.

   In December of 2008 I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). I thank God for all of the good years I’ve had and for the very supportive family, friends and Church members that I have, it helps a lot.

Dick Wilhelm

  After graduation I had several jobs that the qualification required is that you were breathing. After that I went to the U of W at River Falls, until I accepted an invitation from Uncle Sam for a 2-year hitch in the Army. After my discharge I returned to U of W and met my best friend and life companion, Vi. We were married and I started a job at Pierce Pepin Electric (R.E.A.). After a few years I went to N.S.P. as a lineman - district trouble man and retiring in 1996 as a district representative.

   Along the way we had two beautiful daughters Kristi, and Kerry, who gave us three great grandsons, Chase, Kody, and Jonah.

   I enjoy gardening, fishing, and hunting with my wife and the boys.

   In November was our 50th wedding anniversary. I was deer hunting in the morning, and in the afternoon my grandson said we had to stop at a birthday party before we went back hunting. It turns out to be a surprise 50th wedding anniversary party and there I was in my deer hunting clothes! I was embarrassed, but the party was great.

   The pictures I am sending are from that party, so you know why I am the only one not dressed for it.

Jim Rutherford

   After graduation, I attended college in River Falls for two years. In May of 1957, I married the love of my life, Dayna Richardson. Together we have three children, three granddaughters ages 30, 29 & 26 and two great grandchildren ages 5 & 3. We are so proud of each one of them and their spouses.

   We have lived in Durand, River Falls, the Chicago area, two different times. Then back to Hudson, where we have lived for the last thirty-five years.

   We love to travel, we have been to all fifty states, Hawaii ten times, Figi, New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Canada & Mexico. Our latest trip started in Itasca State Park and went all the way to New Orleans. Our goal was to cross every bridge across the Mississipppi River. Which we did. The trips we enjoy the most are the ones where we get in the car and just go, no plans, no destination and no time limit.

Gary Madson
    My wife and I live in retirement in Eastern Virginia on a river near the Chesapeake Bay after spending 25 years working in Washington, D.C. There I worked as chief of staff to four members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Things I learned in SVHS got me started through River Falls where I focused on agriculture and journalism. My farm writing work caught the attention of a Member of Congress from Illinois and he hired me as his press person which resulted in my working career in the Congress. Prior to going to Washington, I was a daily newspaper writer and information staffer for farm organizations in Colorado and Illinois. So I've never strayed far from the ag classes taught by Wally Hansen at Spring Valley. But our Wisconsin roots run deep with a log cabin we have overlooking Lake Superior at Bayfield where we go to escape Virginia's summer heat as well as re-live the days of youth and Wisconsin's snowy winters. Come see us either place.

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