Classmate PROFILES



Entering Your Profile

Soon after you enter your information, we'll add your picture from the Echowan. Besides tons of information about you, you can upload a current photo and a paragraph or two about your life. What has the last fifty (plus) years meant to you? Marriages? Children and grandchildren? Careers? Travel? The meaning of life?

For security, only you can enter information on your personal record. You will establish an ID and a password. Any information you enter will be displayed (with the exception of your Email address), so if you want to maintain privacy over certain items (phone number, for example) don't enter it in your record.

Please do include your Email address so that we can communicate with you from time to time. (We will NOT display your Email address.)

A reminder to those classmates. If you entered 'retired', it would be great if you would add what you did 'before you retired'.

 

Michael Smith

Last updated 1 month ago
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired
What are your favorite activities?: Same as in kindergarten - snack and nap
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Most of Europe and a lot of South America - Italy is a favorite
What kind of music do you like today?: Many

Sandra Snead (Snead)

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Retired Flight Attn.
Comment: Have - Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Pakistan, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, China, Hong Kong (before it was part of), Japan,Thailand, Korea, Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands), Malaysia, Philippines, and my retirement dream trip - a 17 day cruise through the Panama Canal.


Would like to: Alaska Cruise and Nile Cruise, African Safari, back to China to see the terra cotta soldiers, Peru (Machu Picchu), United States. 
What are your favorite activities?: hhiking-road trips-volunteering-hanging with friends
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: See "From Sandra"
What kind of music do you like today?: light classical - 50's/60's - country - blue's
How would your friends describe you today?: I hope they would say loyal, funny, compassionate, nice and friendly, however, you would have to ask them!
What would you change if you could?: To be debt free!!! To be diabetes free!

Eugene Snyder

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Pharmacist - DECEASED SEPT. 8, 2012
Comment:
What are your favorite activities?: Enjoying people in my life

Gwen Sodoma (Holgrimson)

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Widowed
Children: 2
Occupation: retired
Comment: Attended the U of M. where I met my husband. We lived in Rochester, MN for 15 years. We enjoyed remodeling homes and moved 3 times. I guess that was the beginning of my interest in Real Estate. I continued my Real Estate career when we moved to Austin, TX in 1980. Eventually I became an assistant to a Bankruptcy Trustee on two large cases. The final case lasted 10 years at which time I retired.   My husband was retired from IBM by then. That was the beginning of spending August in Northern MN. every year.   Many fun times with family and friends. Last year was a very challenging year for me. Early on I was diagnosed with breast cancer (radiation,chemo) and also my husband lost his long battle with various health problems. I have a great family and wonderful friends who were of great support to Bob and me. My best "forever friend" Max (Shapley Holm) has been there over the years. We take a week getaway every year.   Last month my two sons(6'4"& 6'3"), and daughter-in-law went on a cruise (the first for me and one son).They are great to their short mom. Luckily they took after Bob who was a basketball player from all places Hopkins.    Life has been good to me. Challenges make us grow into better and thankful people. Prayer sure helps too. Thanks to everyone who has put in so much energy and time to make our 50th great. I have enjoyed visiting with some on the phone and through email. I look forward to seeing "ya all" in August. HUGS
What are your favorite activities?: cooking,reading,family
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Mexico, France, Switzerland
What kind of music do you like today?: oldies,easy listening (no rap etc)
How would your friends describe you today?: Caring,kind,a good listener, and a positive attitude no matter what challenges my life has been given in the last few years.
What would you change if you could?: That my husband of 45 years would still be with me. More grandchildren. Each day is a new day and I try and make it a better one than the last.

Karen Soliday (Norum)

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: documentation/technical writer
Comment:

In addition to my three, my husband added three more - we were/are the original Brady bunch!  Quite a loud house with 5 teenagers in it.  Now have 14 grandchildren - do I remember all the names and ages?  Moved to AZ after 21 years in Ohio and love not having a snow-plowing contract, but don't like the blast furnace Summers.  Hope to get reaquainted with everyone at the Reunion! 
What are your favorite activities?: genealogy, hand crafts, scrapbooking
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Egypt, Japan, China
What kind of music do you like today?: Classical
How would your friends describe you today?: loyal, determined/focused, funny, smart, organized
What would you change if you could?: nothing, everything - changing anything would change who I am today

Karen Sorensen-Sagedahl (See Janet Peterson)

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 8
Occupation: Retired - cosmetology and sales
Comment: Because I use "snail mail", this entry is being done by my "administrative assistant" and longtime (60+ yrs) friend and classmate, Janet (Peterson) Nelson.





I have been married to my husband, Chuck, for 34 years.  I had 2 children and he had 6 children.  Together we have 19 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  We lived 26 years in Menahga, Mn. and 8 yrs ago we moved to Brooten, Mn., my husband's hometown. 





My step-daughter and family live in "beautiful" Vancouver, B.C.  We go as often as we can. 





We hosted an exchange student from Konsmo, Norway (NW of Oslo). We visited her and her family.  Great trip.  





Some of my favorite activities are: 


quilting at home and church; 


volunteering at Green Lake Bible Camp; 


Dollars for Scholars while in Menahga;


my Mon - Fri coffee group (affectionately known as "the local 'View'"); 


spending time with grandchildren, my sister, the "Glo" girls and family.  


 


I'm looking forward to the 50th class reunion and getting reacquainted. "Thank you" to the committee!  I know I have "snail mail", but I enjoy sending cards and letters and receiving them. 





Fern Hill was my elementary school. 
What are your favorite activities?: Quilting, volunteering, reading
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Canada - Vancouver, BC; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; New Brunswick; Montreal, Quebec; Norway and many USA states
What kind of music do you like today?: A variety! country to some classics and tunes of the 50's and 60's. We have a very talented grandson in Canada that composes music and is a member of a band.
How would your friends describe you today?: I asked them! Caring, generous, spiritually motivated and committed to making a difference in the lives of others
What would you change if you could?: Wish I could have spent more time with grandchildren. They are pretty much spread out but each one is unique, creative and special.





Servicemen and women coming home from a war zone and readjusting to their families again.





Eliminating cancer, poverty and war.

Art Starkey

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired
Comment:

Many, many thanks to the team organizing the reunion for August 2011.  





After Lenox, Central Junior High (split days) and graduation tried to avoid draft by staying at the "U" as long as I could--doing a five year double major in Communications (Television) and Broadcast Journalism. 





After year of post-graduate work in Broadcast Journalism at "U," Uncle Sam drafted me, but I enlisted in Army to have some choices.





I was fortunate to spend some time in TV Production at Fort Sill, OK, before being selected to work in communications at the White House for 2+ years under LBJ and Nixon.  





After that, nearly 40 years in public broadcasting as Producer/Director, Production Manager in WV and OH and 20 years as a Prog Mgr and Prog Dir in NJ, PA and MS.





Married in 1969 to a wonderful person who still tries to understand me.  Wife is teaching and keeping me in a manner to which I have become accustomed.
What are your favorite activities?: Reading, Watching (Public) TV, Gardening (Roses), Kairos (Ecumenical Prison Ministry)
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Ireland, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia, Canada, Mexico
What kind of music do you like today?: Classical, Choral, 50s, 60s, Folk, Broadway shows
How would your friends describe you today?: If I had any friends I would hope they would say I was trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent because I have not been all of those things. And of course, I would hope they would say a little bit humorous.





I would hope they would say I was kind and generous, because I try to be. They might also say I was organized--to the point of being obsessive.
What would you change if you could?: I have been blessed with a loving wife for 41 years, loving, caring and supporting friends and family.





If I regret one thing it is that I will never be able to dance with our only child--a daughter--at her weddding. A 2lb. preemie, Leslie was born at Walter Reed in Washington D.C. She graduated from the Univ of Missouri in Journalism and loved working in NYC. In 1999 Les suffered significant head trama in a fall on Mother's Day and died the following day. Her gift of life to others is our blessing. We think of her every day.

Loraine Stillman (Polski)

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Artist/teacher
Comment:  I look forward to seeing the class of 61 after--can it actually be 50 years. Here's hoping that all of us who have made it this far are basically healthy and happy.
What are your favorite activities?: art, weaving, reading, traveling
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: I've been to six continents, but there is always someplace we haven't yet been.
What kind of music do you like today?: most
How would your friends describe you today?: Energetic, creative,curious
What would you change if you could?: Nothing

Ron Stover

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: RETIRED after 40 years in Fluid Power Marketing
What are your favorite activities?: Family gatherings, travel, golf, hockey, baseball, painting
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Austria , Hungary, France, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Mexico, Cuba, Ireland , Scotland, England. US, China
What kind of music do you like today?: Everything but RAP ..
How would your friends describe you today?: Husband, Dad, and Grandpa and love watching our 6 grandchildren venture through life.....enjoy life no matter where I am.

Linda Strohmayer (Flagg)

Last updated 1 month ago
Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 7
Occupation: Retired Nurse Practitioner
Comment:




After H.S. I planned on going into nursing.  I was accepted to Northwestern's Hospital Diploma program, but had to leave, due to back problems.  I was devastated, as I had wanted to be a nurse, since the age of six.





Before I got back into nursing, I married David Smith, another 1961 classmate, in 1963.  We were married 20 years and had three wonderful sons.





In 1965 I decided to look into going back to school to complete my nursing degree. I graduated from St. Mary's Jr College, in 1967, getting my A.D. in nursing.  I completed my B.S degree in 1979, by attending night classes in St. Paul, MN. The classes were offered off campus through the College of St. Francis, in Joliet, IL.  This enabled me to continue working at Methodist Hospital, in St. Louis Park, to pay for schooling. After getting my B.S. degree, I attended the U.of MN,  getting my Nurse Practitioner Certification in 1981.  While working at Methodist, I restarted night classes, through the College of St. Francis, and completed my M.S in Health Administration, in 1987.





I worked at Park Nicollet Medical Center and Methodist Hospital in the Oncology and Primary Care Departments, for 32 years.  I retired in 2001 to take care of my mother, who had had a stroke, and was in need of total nursing care.





I married Ed Strohmayer in 1988.  He has three sons and a daughter, from a previous marriage.  We now have 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.





Our life has been busy with the children, grandchildren and travel, since our retirement.





I had a wonderful time at the reunion; all the special activities, seeing past classmates, and just reminiscing about the past.  Thanks to all the steering and planning committees.  You did an exceptional job!!!
What are your favorite activities?: travel, golfing, dancing
What countries have you visited and/or would you like to visit?: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico
What kind of music do you like today?: Country, classical and some rock and roll