PRESENTS PHOTOS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE
50 YEAR REUNION OF CLASS 1957

Rosemary Johnson Euken 

After graduating from Tarkio, I went to teach in Denver before I got married.  Then I went on to teach in Craig, MO, Aberdeen, SD, and Clarinda, IO. Finally we settled in Omaha, NE, where I finished my 40 year teaching career.   

After 10 years of marriage, I got a divorce.  I stayed on in Omaha and earned a Master’s Degree from the U. of Nebraska at Omaha.  I loved my job and had a great career in two of the top schools in Omaha.  During this period, I devoted myself to my family, gardening, and developed a love for skiing. 

 In 1997, I went back to our 40th college reunion and reconnected with an old classmate, Jon Wiemann.  We began dating and when I retired in 98, we decided to join our lives together.  Our time was divided between California and Nebraska for two years.  This became increasingly difficult, so I sold my home in Omaha and purchased a home here in Aliso Viejo.  Aliso Viejo is half way between Los Angeles and San Diego, about 4 miles from the coast.  We love this area for its beautiful rolling hills and plant life.  A bonus is the view of the mountains from our home.   

Retirement is really great.  I spend a lot to time decorating our home, scrap booking, and working in my flower garden.  I also work out in my health club 5 days a week to help keep fit.  

We have traveled a bit, but there is so much to see and do in this area that it keeps us busy.  We enjoy taking short trips to the surrounding areas.   Many years, our big trip is back to the Mid West to see our family and friends.
 

Gordon Collins

 I graduated from Tarkio College in 1957.  I was in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959.  I earned a MA degree from The Ohio State University in 1960, and a PH.D. from Ohio State in 1965.  I began a lifetime career at The College of Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio, in 1963.  Found it to be the perfect place for me and rose through the ranks from Instructor to Professor of Psychology and ultimately became the holder of the first Endowed Professorship in 1997.

 I retired as the Whitmore-Williams Professor of Psychology in June 2000.  I had the longest tenure as a Professor of Psychology in that Department (37 years) and as the Faculty Athletic Representative to the NCAA (28 years).  I also coached jumpers and vaulters in Track and Field all of my years at Wooster and every current record holder in the jumps and pole vault; man or woman, experienced my coaching, for better or worse.

 As many of you know, I married Suzanne Steffen after we graduated:  We were divorced in 1990.  We have three children, Karin, Scott, and Mike, and I have three granddaughters, Kailee (15), Kiera (12), and Megan (7) and a step granddaughter, Kasey (10).

 In October of 1997, I married my long time friend "Deanie Sherard."    We live in Chandler, Arizona in the winter; and in Wooster, Ohio, in the spring, summer and part of the fall.  We enjoy The College of Wooster Campus activities; a big garden; golf; volunteering, and coffee with friends.
 

Pat Harbison Meek

4 Children, 12 Grandchildren

I married a “home town” guy, Dean Meek.  We raised four boys and all are doing well.  I helped my husband with his plumbing and heating business here in Tarkio. We are now retired and enjoying family and friends.
 

Joe Craven, Fiancé, Connie Quimby

 3 Children and 5 Grandchildren

 I stayed in Tarkio the whole time, except for 3 years in the Army (1957-1960) I was a farmer and a carpenter for the next several years.  I am retired, more or less, as of two years ago.
 

Suzanne Steffen Collins

 3 Children and 4 Grandchildren

 Retired:  30 years teaching 3 yr. olds at the College of Wooster Nursery School and 25 years as a secretary at the First Presbyterian Church.

Joe Huston, MD 

After graduation from Tarkio College in 1957, I attended the Medical School at the University of Kansas, graduating in 1962.  Rotating internship was completed in 1963 at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orlando. I met Nita and we married in January 1963 while in Florida. We have been married 44 years.  I was then general medical officer in the U.S. Air Force for 2 years.  After which I completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at Baroness Erlanger and T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga in 1969.  By then we had 6 children and it was time to get a job.  Russ and Ron were Nita’s boys when we first met. Suzanne, Jon, Tim and Karen came quickly thereafter. 

 Since 1969 we have lived in Topeka, Kansas where I have practiced orthopaedic surgery. I have not retired, but don’t work as hard or as much as I once did.  I no longer do my own surgery, but several times a week I assist on total knees and hips.  I, also, conduct a clinic at a VA hospital twice a week.  We still live in the house we built in 1977.  Two more payments and it will be ours. 

  I walk 15 miles a week to keep all the vital parts in working condition. I am still hanging on to athletic competition on a 60+ softball team. Russ owns U.S. International Ins. Company.  Ron and Tim work with him. Jon is director of human resources for Covenant Transport. Suzi is a social worker for the State of Kansas. Karen is a department manager for Macy’s in Nashville. Our grandchildren count is presently at 15. I am looking forward to the 50^th reunion of Class of ’57! 
 

Ann Stevenson Voggesser 

After college graduation, I taught music one year in Denver Colorado, two years in Walnut, IA and three years in Denison, IA. It was in Walnut where I met Roy, my husband of 45 years. Roy and I were married in 1961 and we both taught in Denison thinking we would be here for a few years and move on . that didn’t happen .. we are still here. We have two children but no grandchildren .. just "grand-cats." David is an air-traffic controller in Chicago and Nancy teaches language arts just 35 miles from Denison. I was a "stay at home" mom until our children were in school. I did some graduate work at two Colorado Universities. I taught piano lessons privately for over 25 years as well as being a lunchroom secretary in the middle school for 17 years. I directed the church choir for many years until 20 + years ago became the church organist. (I still play the organ for church when we are home) During these years, I did a lot of accompanying at the high school for solo and ensemble contests as well as concerts. We retired in 1991. We spend 3 winter months in Port Isabel, TX…just across the bay from South Padre Island. We like to travel and have taken many foreign trips to destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. In the past few years, I have become quite addicted to my computer and digital camera. We still have interests in the Tarkio area so visit there quite often.  Looking forward to our 50^th reunion … always thought those "50 year classes" looked so old …. I’ve changed my opinion about that idea.
 

Shirley Lobb Kiefer (Richard ’55)

3 Children, 7 Grandchildren, & 1 Great Grandchild

After I left Tarkio in 1955, I taught school in Ezel, Kentucky for one year.  In 1956, Dick and I married and lived for two years in Pittsburgh, PA.  Dick finished seminary and I worked as a Christine Ed. Director in a local church.

After seminary, we moved to Allerton, Iowa where Dick served a church there for two years. From Allerton, we moved to Des Moines.  Dick was an assistant pastor for 7 years at Westminister Presbyterian Church.

 From Des Moines, we moved to Dallas Center, Iowa and Dick served the Presbyterian Church for 18 years.  I finished my teaching degree at Drake U. and taught elementary school in the Dallas Center School District for 27½ years.

We are both retired now and live in a log home we built in the 70’s that sits on 5 acres of land near Dallas Center.
 

Howard “Bud: Brown (Rayma Ricker Brown)

We were married before Bud finished his degree.  Of course you might recall that he went to college so long he could do anything but preach or teach.

He worked for Wilson Concrete right out of Tarkio and then took a job with Continental Can in Omaha.  Wanting to do outside sales, he then took a job with United Can in California. We were there three years and were transferred to Toledo, Ohio.  United then sold that can plant to Crown Cork & Seal.  Bud did not care for the way they did things, so he looked around and took a job with Central Can Company in Chicago.  We moved here in 1977 and have been here ever since. We fortunately sold our big house and moved to a golf villa in Naperville.   We both always loved looking out to a golf course.  I retired from Naperville Central High School with 35 years in high school counseling hoping that the two of us could travel, golf, and simply grow old together.  Not to be.  Bud succumbed to Hepatitis C, which destroyed his liver over time.  He was in and out of the hospital over the years and had to have kidney dialysis.  Bud eventually realized that his life was going to “crap” and halted further care.  He was at peace with his decision.  He passed May 1, 2006.  I miss him a ton!  You know what a character he was.  There is such a void in my life without him, but he always gave me confidence and allowed me to do whatever I wanted.  Ornery as he was, I had the best life in the world and he was such fun. 

Larry and Lavina Pattee

Larry received his Master’s Degree from the U. of Illinois and then spent one year in the Army.  He started his teaching career in Rock Port, MO, moved next to Council Bluffs, IA, and then returned to Tarkio College. He was on the college teaching and administrative staff for 17 years. Meanwhile, he received his PH.D from the U. of Oregon and spent one year in Alexandria, Egypt.  In 1979, we moved to the U. of Dubuque, IA where he held a number of positions in administration and teaching.  We had 5 children, but lost our son, Keith, in 1987.  During all of these years, Lavina taught grade school in Illinois, Iowa, and Oregon. She worked with college students for 10 years at U. of D. and received a Master’s Degree there. In 1993, we returned to the Schutz American School in Alexandria, Egypt where Larry served as the headmaster for 6 years and Lavina filled a variety of teaching positions. We enjoyed the opportunity to travel to many parts of Europe and the Middle East during those years. We continue to enjoy traveling.  After retiring in 1999, we spent one year in Richmond, VA and then moved to Big Lake, MN, where we now reside.  In 2003, we spent a month in Kabul, Afghanistan to see about opening an international school there.  Since then we have been active in trying to establish schools for girls in rural communities in that country. We also spent a month in Sri Lanka after the tsunami with a group of volunteers trying to clean up one small village and help the people rebuild their lives. We enjoy being with our families scattered around the U.S. and watching our seven grandchildren growing up, which is way too fast.  Church work, family, and travel keep us involved in these “Golden Years”.

Joan Nelson Waterson

I am now living in Suntree, Florida along the eastern coast – about twenty miles from the Kennedy Space Center and seven miles from the Atlantic Ocean.  Jack and I moved here in 1996.  We were married on January 2, 1960 at the Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah, Iowa.  Prior to that, I had taught in Anita, IA and Denver, CO. 

We lived in Schenectady, NY until July 1967.  Our two daughters were born there – Jill Kathryn and Judi Lynn.  We then moved to Rockville, MD where we lived in the same house for almost 29 years until we moved to FL.  Our daughters attended local schools in Montgomery County, outside of Washington, D.C.   It was a great neighborhood and area in which to live. 

Our daughter Jill is married and lives in KY with her husband and three children.  Many trips have been taken and continue as the children grow up.  Judi is married and lives in KS with her husband.   When I visit them, I usually travel to IA as my family is still in the Shenandoah area. 

I have always been involved in the children’s programs of all the churches we have attended; now it’s a Presbyterian Church in America congregation in Melbourne. 

Jack and I have taken several cruises to the eastern and western areas of the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America.   We have been to Europe:  England, Wales, Scotland, Italy and Spain with an overnight trip to Morocco, Africa.  I’ve also been to Denmark, Sweden and Norway when the Nelson cousins visited relatives in Sweden in 1999.  Judi and I have traveled to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. 

Professionally speaking, I was either an elementary classroom teacher or a substitute teacher in all of the five states in which I have lived since graduation. 

Dory and Betty Brown Malott 

Dory and I celebrated our 50^th wedding Anniversary last September, 2006.  We were married in a small church wedding (only five people in attendance – all Tarkio classmates) in Des Moines a week after Dory returned from Alaska, where he was stationed with the Air Force.

  Following two more years in the Air Force (stationed in Battle Creek, Michigan), we returned to Chicago, Illinois where Dory resumed his job with TWA.  He stayed with TWA in various positions until his retirement.  We made the move to St. Louis when TWA started failing, but we grew to love the city and so stayed.  We had three sons one of whom died in 1978 from Brain Cancer.  The other two are in the Chicago area with engineering jobs.

  Besides being a homemaker and following our sons in their many school activities, I worked as a church secretary for a Presbyterian Church and a Methodist Church for a total of 33 years, finally retiring two years ago.

  Our retirement years have been spent in puttering around our home, gardening and keeping ourselves in shape by working out at a Health Club.  I recently joined a Spinning Class (one hour of stationary bicycle riding) and find it exhilarating.  Dory was a runner most of our married life, but after a hip replacement several years ago, he can only do the treadmill and lift weights.

  We also took on a very time consuming job after retirement of caring for out friend’s dogs when they go on vacation.  It started as a favor and it has escalated into what could be a full time business, if we let it.  After our beloved Afghan died, we decided not to get another dog, but yet we both love animals.  We have a fairly large yard that is fenced in so when a friend had to leave town due to a death in the family, I volunteered to care for her Cocker Spaniel.  Once the word got out we discovered over 22 friends with dogs that did not want to leave them in a kennel.  We are doing well and life has been good to us.

Orville “Bud” & Betty Williams

A note from Betty, Bud’s wife:  I am afraid the word hasn’t gotten to everyone that Bud passed away April 18^th, 2005.  He had renal failure as a result of Diabetes.  His kidneys were failing to the point of needing dialysis and he just could not tolerate it, plus he had several other ailments as a result of the diabetes. He died 3 months before we would have celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary.

  Bud loved Tarkio and everything he was involved in.  He had a great life as a World History teacher and Music Director at several Baptist churches in the area.  He was involved in sports, too, as he was the wrestling coach for 26 years at Seneca High School in Louisville and they named their gymnasium in his honor.  He will be inducted into the KY High School Athletic Assoc. Hall of Fame posthumously on April 14, 2007.

  Bud would have loved attending our 50^th reunion and seeing his classmates after all these years.

Jon Wiemann

I played four years of football, basketball, and track at Tarkio and graduated with a BS degree and Second Honors. Also, I was listed in the Skulls of Seven for 1957.

I spent two years in the Army after graduation and then taught one year at Anita, Iowa before moving to Calif. At Anita, I was the football coach, girl’s basketball coach, and track coach. Also, taught boys and girls physical education. My classroom duties were American Government and Sociology. Plus I got to be the grounds keeper for the football field, i.e. mow, chalk field, etc. We had to do it all in those days.

   In California, I taught at an Intermediate School in Whittier for 34 years as an Athletic Director, Physical Ed. Instructor and coach. I coached an age group swim team in Whittier for 6 years in the evenings and on weekends all the while earning a Masters Degree from CSULA.

  I took most of the photos for the yearbook and special occasions and hand lettered all of the diplomas for 400 students, as I had taken classes on Calligraphy. Later I took on the diplomas for our sister school in the same district.  All voluntary, of course. 

Ralph Wayne Winstead

Wayne was born September 18, 1934 in Westboro, Missouri.  He graduated from Westboro High School in 1953 and from Tarkio College in 1957.

Wayne was married to Bonnie Louise Driskell on June 8, 1957 at the Westboro U. Methodist Church.  They made their home in Sheridan, Missouri.

In 1957, Wayne enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany for two years.  After his active duty, he served in the Army Reserves until 1963.  Following his return home, Wayne was employed by the Sheridan Schools from 1959 to 1976. He received his Master’s Degree of Education in Guidance and Counseling in 1972 for Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO. Wayne was then a guidance counselor at the Worth County Schools from 1977 to 1979.  In 1980, he taught at Northwest Missouri State U and coached the Northwest Lady Bearcats basketball team for the next 19 years.  When Wayne retired in 1999, he continued coaching with fifth and sixth grade basketball teams in the Worth County School and was a substitute teacher.

Wayne was inducted into the Northwest Hall of Fame, led the Lady Bearcats to a MIAA title, and was inducted into the Tarkio College Hall of Fame.  Wayne’s teams won 20 games three times and advanced to the postseason on 16 separate occasions.  He was named MIAA Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1990.

Wayne passed away on January 18, 2005 at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, daughter and son-in-law, Shelly and Kevin Hiatt, three grandsons, Brock, Jordan, and Kyler Hiatt.

  While Coach Winstead won many honors and was recognized for many accomplishments throughout his life, we found within him a humble heart.  He was not award-driven, but, rather, motivated by a desire to be a good example for young people, especially the youngest and most impressionable. All of “Wayne’s girls”, every friend

along the way, and each of his family members were all very valuable.  Each relationship was precious to Coach Winstead.  His philosophy of life was not just something that he taught; God first, family second, schoolwork third, and basketball fourth was the example by which he lived.  It was not just a phrase that hung on his wall; it was a life commandment that was inscribed upon his heart.

Raymond Graves

After graduation, I was drafted into the Army and served eighteen months. I was honorably discharged

I taught and coached for six years, married Ruth Mulder, and we had four children.  We divorced after seventeen years.

I have been happily married to my second wife, Gwen, for thirty-one years. 

I went into business with the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and was sent to Scottsdale, Arizona as President of LNL of Arizona.

We developed a pension company there and then later, developed real estate and a recycling company.  I hear from Max Dougherty, Stan and Jeannie Wheatley, Wink George and Paul Gilbert and his lovely wife, Dee.

We will be unable to attend the reunion this year because I am running in the Senior Olympics in Kentucky at that time.  We will be at the next one.

Ken and Ruth Horn MacLEOD

Ken and I both left Tarkio in January 1957.  I attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for the spring quarter and Ken returned to his home in New Jersey to work. We both returned to Tarkio for graduation in May.

Summer 1957: I worked in Christian Education at a Presbyterian Church in Newton, Iowa.  September 1957 – May 1958: Both Ken and I attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

June 1958 – June 1960: I was a Christian Education worker at the Wilkinsburg PA Presbyterian Church and Ken completed Seminary.

August 8, 1959, Ken and I were married in the Presbyterian Church in Ashton Iowa.  Ken was a summer student intern there.  (My home church in Boyden, IA had burned down)

May 1960-Nov. 1961: Ken graduated from Seminary in May and was ordained in his home church in Paterson, New Jersey in July.  In August, we began a shared Christian Education position in Bloomfield, New Jersey.  Ken also attended Rutgers U. working on a Master of Education Degree. Our son Philip was born in September 1961.

  December 1961-July 1966: Ken was pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in Traer, IA and completed his Master of Ed. Degree at Cedar Falls, IA.  Our daughter, Cheryl, was born in October 1963.

  August 1966-September 1971: Two Christian Education positions: Kenwood Park Presbyterian in Cedar Rapids, IA and Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, IA

  October 1971-December 1996:  Ken was Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, IA. and  I was a stay at home mom until January, 1978, when I began work at a child day-care center.  When the center closed, I took some of the children into our home and had a home day-care for nearly 10 years.

  January 1997-February 1999:  Ken was pastor of the Lake Park, IA Presbyterian Church.

  In March, 1999, we retired to Sheldon, IA and began attending the United Presbyterian Church in Boyden, IA where I had been baptized, confirmed and attended before college.  My mother lived with us until her death in March 2003 at the age of 102 & ¾.  Ken flunked retirement and served as a part time interim pastor of 2 near-by Presbyterian churches and assisted some at the Boyden Church when they were without a pastor.  He was serving as minister of calling at one of the churches where he had been an interim until his death on July 10, 2005.

   We had a wonderful last year together in 2004: A driving trip to Florida visiting family, college, seminary and former church member friends. A trip to Ostfriesland, Germany to visit family I was able to locate in my genealogy work of about 25 years. Our son joined us to tour other areas in Germany.  A driving trip to New Jersey for a niece’s wedding and to see friends and more family.  A trip to Singapore to visit our daughter who is working there with a side trip to Australia to visit an exchange student, who lived with us while we were in Knoxville.  

  I continue to live in our home in Sheldon, IA, even though it is rather large for one person.

Welch, Jane Kenneweg & Dick

Dear friends,

What a surprise and delight it was to get Audrey McLaughlin Bair’s call the other night . . . to catch up with her and news of some of you, to envision you in my mind’s eye, and to see you on the snap shot page of the splendid website! (Somebody did some work on that . . .  Thanks!)  You look good to me. . as Mike Zachodni says – “Vintage”! The signs of aging are ribbons of our campaigns. .  . Painful, glorious, and otherwise.

 I know you all are going to have a wonderful time together, with lots of good laughs and more memories!  I will be hopefully doing something like that at the Muskingum College 50^th at about the same time.

Going anywhere right now is a healthy challenge since I broke my leg badly 6 weeks ago and am hopping about with a walker. .

Talk about feeling aged!  (Mom, who is 99 this month, and I are about the same speed.)

Dick and I are living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, on an island in between the mainland and the banks, Roanoke Island, about 10 by 3 miles wide.  It is the home of the Lost Colony outdoor drama, if you have been this way.  We are about 5 minutes from the Sound and 10 from the ocean.  It is a beautiful place to be (barring hurricanes).

We moved here when we retired 7 years ago and have made good friends. We have kayaks and a small sailboat to appreciate the water. You are so welcome to join us!

Having been inspired by Dr. George in psychology, I eventually got a graduate degree in counseling when I had to support myself and practiced that for 25 years.  I liked it and the people who came my way.

Dick and I have been married 20 years . . . the best years of my adult life.  He has several children, some who live around here, and I have two, a son in San Diego and a daughter in Columbus, OH.

As I mentioned above, Mom is with us still, in mind and spirit! She lives in a retirement community (Breckinridge) in Willoughby, OH, east of Cleveland.  She has her own apartment, but recourse to aid as she needs it. My brother, Bill, and his wife live about a half hour away.  We will be celebrating her 99^th June 17^th.

Thank you so much for including me in your alumni and reunion activities.  I will be checking the website for news about the reunion . . . and sending you thoughts of well being and enjoyment even though I cannot be there. 

I would enjoy hearing from you!

Go to Page 2