DESTINY'S DEEP SEA

00s | 90s | 80s | 70s | 60s | Deaths

00s

Derek Fey ’03 set a new record on the Herman (Neb.)-to-Blair half marathon course on March 7. Derek ran the 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 28 seconds, beating the previous record of 1 hour, 12 minutes set in 2000 by Scott Stanley ’01.

Amber Lake ’03 is working at the Social Security Administration in Sioux City, Iowa. She lives in Hinton, Iowa.

Diedre Peterson ’03 married Andrew Ochsner on April 17 in Omaha. Diedre works at Cherry Creek Schools in Denver, Colo., where the couple lives.

Natalie (Flynn ’02) and Justin Christensen ’01 are the proud parents of a daughter, Tayte Cassidy, born Oct. 1, 2003. Tayte was 7 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Justin is the advertising coordinator for First Nebraska Educators Credit Union in Omaha. Natalie is a registered nurse at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The family lives in Blair.

Mary (Miller ’02) and Ross Jensen ’04 had a baby girl, Mary Hannah Taylor, on Jan. 14. She was 22 inches long and weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces. The family lives in Omaha, where Ross is a youth care worker at Cooper Village and Mary is the director of first impressions for Redstone Communications.

Anne (Laughery ’02) Folkers was promoted to admissions coordinator at Clarkson College in Omaha.

Megan (Olson ’01) and Tim Andersen ’01 live in Lincoln, Neb. Tim is an environmental scientist and project manager at EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc. in Lincoln. Megan is a junior high English teacher at Raymond (Neb.) Central.

Lindsay (Joslin ’01) Benoit and husband, Josh, welcomed a baby girl on Jan. 20. Isabella Reese weighted 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. The family lives in Blair.

Jennifer (Schaaf ’01) Tougaw received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in December 2003. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jennifer (Williams ’00) and Dan Formo ’99 live in Madison, Wis. Dan works for the University of Wisconsin Health System as a software trainer and Jennifer works for the March of Dimes as an administrative assistant.

Cassandra (Green ’00) Harrison is working at The Conran Shop, an interior design shop, as a wedding list coordinator in London, England. She is also studying interior design and doing freelance art projects.

Stephanie Lassek ’00 and Benjamin Olson ’97 were married Sept. 20, 2003, in Dana’s Trinity Chapel. Stephanie works for Friendship Program in Omaha. Benjamin works at Novartis in Lincoln, Neb., as an Aerotek contract employee.

90s

Rich Martell ’99 teaches physical education and is the athletic director at Indian Ridge Middle School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He is also the assistant baseball coach at Monarch High School in Fort Lauderdale. His wife, Celeste (Johnson ’01) Martell teaches physical education at Coconut Creek High School, where she is the head women’s volleyball and basketball coach. The Martells live in Margate, Fla.

Ken Nikolas ’99 lives in Madison, Wis., with his wife, Lisa. Ken works at Johnson Bank in Madison as a credit analyst.

Mike Gerson ’98 received his master’s degree in health and married Concetta Gerson in 2000.

Sara (Bohling ’98) Hansen received her master of social work degree from the University of Nebrasaka-Omaha on Dec. 19, 2003. She is director of social services for Memorial Health Care Systems of Seward, Neb., for the Anna Sundermann Homes.

Dawn Bernzen ’97 married Erich Wallschlaeger in June 1999. The couple had their first son, Taylor, in June 2000. Dawn is a social worker and therapist in Mesa, Ariz.

Nancy Kemmish ’97 married Jeff Schrage on April 24. Nancy is a human resource coordinator for University Medical Associates in Omaha, where she and Jeff live.

Audra Kobs ’97 was featured in a “Teacher Feature” profile in the Burt County (Neb.) Plaindealer in January. Audra is a Spanish and English teacher in Tekamah, Neb.

Kristi (Niemeier ’97) Mentink was featured in The Woodbine (Iowa) Twiner for her Land of the Letter People program. In the program, Mentink’s kindergarten students in Woodbine learn a new letter each week by “meeting” a huggable letter person.

Jennifer Pfingsten ’97 is a deputy county attorney for Gage County, Neb. Her duties include traffic cases, misdemeanors and juvenile court, as well as being the lead attorney for county planning and zoning issues.

Angela Martinsen ’95 recieved her master’s degree in biology on Dec. 19 from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Angela works in the Surgery Research Department of the Leid Transplant Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where she lives.

Angie (Heise ’94) Knudsen is the manager of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Fremont, Neb., which serves Butler, Dodge, Saunders, Burt, Washington and portions of Douglas counties in Nebraska. She lives in Omaha.

Kim Sloan ’93 married Scott Bergman on Nov. 21, 2003. They have four daughters, Nickole, 14; Jenifer, 13; Kaitlyn, 7; and Kassidy, 4. The family lives in Dacono, Colo., where Kim is an early childhood teacher.

Stephen Swenson ’92 lives near Lake Harriet, Minn., with his children, Avalon, 9, and Isak, 7.

Lori (Ohms ’91) Bayne is an account manager for the western half of the United States for the marketing department at Mid America Computer Corp. in Blair. She lives in Omaha.

Tina (Reimer ’91) Eller and her husband, Dale, recently had their first child, Ian, who weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Tina teaches Spanish at Amboy High School in Amboy, Ill.

Coleen Lennemann ’91 married Troy Denton on July 5, 2003. Coleen is in her sixth year as a QA analyst at Mid America Computer Corp. in Blair. The Dentons live in Oakland, Neb.

Stacey Schutt ’91 is teaching pre-kindergarten through eighth grade art at St. Mary’s School in Bellevue, Neb. She lives in Gretna, Neb.

Craig Dew ’90 works with behavioral disorderly students at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He also coaches football and wrestling, and runs the summer youth programs. He and his wife, Becky, have four children, Misty, 13; Morgan, 10; Forrest, 9; and Frasier, 7. They live in Silver City, Iowa.

Susan Hendrick ’90 is spending four months in India with her husband, Sandy Sheth. The trip ends in May.

80s

Sue (Warren ’88) Dlouhy and her family moved to Deshler, Neb., in March. Sue stays at home to be with her daughter, Leah, born Oct. 15, 2002, and help keep up with her four school-age children.

Karla (Bidstrup ’87) Spencer married James DeBoer, a high school classmate, on Oct. 18, 2003, in Racine, Wis. The couple lives in Racine with their children, Evan Spencer and Hailey DeBoer.

Brenda Meyer ’86 married Tom Accola on Feb. 7 in Omaha. Brenda is a program financial analyst at Harris Corp. in Bellevue, Neb., where the couple lives.

Karen (Hansen ’85) Johnson has moved to Walton, Ind.

Cindy (Lorenzen ’84) Hansen traveled to Cameroon for two weeks in November 2003 with Women Building Global Community, a global education and advocacy program for and about women, sponsored by the ELCA Division for Global Mission and the Women of the ELCA. Nineteen women from the United States joined six women from Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal and Liberia to travel, listen and learn about women’s issues in West Africa. Cindy has made a commitment to give presentations about her trip for the next two years. She is also secretary of the the South Dakota Synod’s Task Force for Companion Synods. She led in the writing of a Sunday school education program about the Synod’s companion synods in Nicaragua and Cameroon. Cindy teaches at St. Mary’s School in Salem, S.D., where she lives with her husband, Jeff Hansen ’87, and their son, Pete.

Tim Rongstad ’84 teaches K–5 science at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul, Minn. He also coaches. He and his wife, Kris, have two children, Matthew, 15, and Rachel, 13, and live in Woodbury, Minn. The whole family is involved with church activities, athletic pursuits and fishing.

Janelle (Tippery ’82) Ray was featured in the Burt County (Neb.) Plaindealer’s Teacher Feature column. Janelle teaches fifth and sixth grade at Herman (Neb.) Elementary. She lives in Herman.

Nancy (Anderson ’81) Judson is an admissions evaluator at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She lives in Longmont, Colo.

70s

Carol (Holmstedt ’75) and Jim Prouty ’73, along with their daughter Jami (Prouty ’98) Finazzo, and Jim’s brother John Prouty ’70 were featured in One Magazine in December 2003. The family renovated an old liquor warehouse in downtown Omaha into a new working space for the family businesses, Wessco Graphics and Prouty Bros. Real Estate, as well as living quarters.

Beverly Jedynak ’74 has been named president of the Martin E. Janis & Company, Inc. public relations firm in Chicago, Ill. Beverly is listed in “Who’s Who Among American Women” and is a member of the National Association of Female Executives, American Guild of Organists, American Lutheran Church Musicians and Hymn Society of America.

John Christensen ’71 was named vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University of Nebraska–Omaha in January. Christensen had been serving on an interim basis in the position.

60s

Kathy (Anderson ’62) Bliese was selected as one of the 200 best poets of 2003 by the International Society of Poets. One of her poems has been published in “Colors of the Heart,” and two more have been accepted for future publication. One poem will be published in the United Kingdom by Noble House. Kathy was honored by the governor of Nebraska as a Caring Physician of 2003, and Nov. 8, 2003, was declared Dr. Kathy Bliese Day in Nebraska. She lives in Grand Island, Neb.

Al Girtz ’61 married Barbara Camp on Aug. 31, 2003, near Mapleton, Minn. In September 2003, Al finished an interim ministry position in a Lutheran church in Salina, Kan. The couple will keep two homes, one in Salina and one in Mapleton.

Deaths

Louise (Kahler) Spires ’70 died Dec. 26, 2003, in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Louise taught in rural schools near Chadron and Alliance, Neb., Missouri Valley, and Logan, Loveland and Council Bluffs, Iowa. She enjoyed teddy bears and crocheting. Survivors include a daughter, two grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Terry Carlson ’68 died Jan. 23 at home in Lincoln, Neb. Terry worked for 20 years with the Nebraska State Electrical Division as an inspector and became a director in 1991. He was an avid aircraft enthusaist, held a pilot’s license and built his own experimental aircraft. Survivors include his wife, Judy, two daughters, three grandchildren, a sister and two brothers.

John Seburg ’65 died Jan. 14 in Omaha. John taught fifth grade in Blair Community Schools for 34 years. He was a member of the Nebraska Education Association, the National Education Association and Brookstone Church in Omaha. Survivors include his wife, Jeanette (Bauder) Seburg ’83, three children, four grandchildren, his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Carlene (Petersen ’58) Heiser died Dec. 11, 2003, in McMinnville, Ore. Carlene taught kindergarten for 18 years in the McMinnville School District. A passionate knitter, she made many prayer shawls for the members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Salem, Ore. Survivors include her husband, Jim Heiser ’59, a son and daughter, three grandchildren and a sister, Karen (Petersen ’59) Jensen.

Edward Sorensen ’44 died Dec. 26, 2003, in Des Moines, Iowa. Ed was a veteran of World War II, owned and operated Sorensen Equipment Company and served on the board of Dania Savings and Loan. Survivors include his wife, Jeane, three children, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two brothers, Art D ’49 T ’52 and Connie ’53.

Lyle Paulsen D ’43 T ’45 died Jan. 25. He served congregations in Daneville Church, N.D., Westby, Mont., Washington Island, Wis., Harlan, Iowa, Livermore, Calif., and Ogden, Utah. He later became a minister in association at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Tucson, Ariz. Survivors include his wife, Agnes (Larsen ’42) Paulsen, three sons, two daughters and nine grandchildren.

Emery Petersen D ’38 T ’43 died Dec. 25, 2003. Emery served parishes in Rolfe, Callendar, Scranton and Coon Rapids, Iowa, Aurora, Colo. and St. Francis, Kan. After retiring from the ministry, he served as interim pastor for numerous congregations. Survivors include his wife, Carol (Oleson ’39), four daughters including Naomi (Petersen ’66) Theye and Sharon (Petersen ’69) Holdorf, and seven grandchildren.

Gladys (Hansen ’36) Nichols died Jan. 25 in Greenfield, Iowa. She was a farmer for decades near Fontanelle, Iowa, and was a 4-H leader. She traveled to all 50 U.S. states, much of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Survivors include a son, two daughters, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Louis Chrstiansen ’32 died Jan. 24 in Aurora, Mo. Louis attended the Marionville (Mo.) Church of the Nazarene. He organized the local National Methodist Camper’s Club and was a supporter of the local sports program. Survivors include his wife, Lucille, two sons, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Esther (Frost ’31) Magnussen died Dec. 9, 2003, in Anaheim, Calif. Esther taught high school English and home economics, and served as a counselor in Newman, Gilroy and Burlingame, Calif. Her travels took her throughout Europe and Nigeria. Survivors include two brothers, Carl Frost ’38 and Tom Frost ’46, two stepsons, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Henry Jensen ’26 died Feb. 13, 2003, in St. Anthony, Minn. He taught high school in Browerville and Askov, Minn., and later did technical personnel work in the Twin Cities, Minn. After retiring, he pursued his hobbies of hunting, fishing, camping and traveling. Survivors include his wife, Eunice, a daughter, two grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

Corrections

In the Winter 2004 edition we printed the wrong birth length for Emily Lynn Nieland, daughter of Kara (Vergamini ’97) and Robert Nieland ’97. Emily was 16 inches long.

What's New With You?

New baby? New job? Award? Honor? Moved? Retired? Married? Watermelon seed-spitting champion? We want to know! Send us a description of what’s going on with you and we’ll print it in the DANA REVIEW. Got a cute photo? Make your item stand out by sending it along!

Mail your information to: DANA REVIEW, Dana College, 2848 College Drive, Blair, NE 68008 or scavanah@dana.edu.
The deadline for submitting items for the Summer 2004 REVIEW is Aug. 1. The deadline for Fall is Oct. 1.