Buzz Book
How to create your Buzz Book entry:
Click on the Add Your Profile button to include your current contact information in our Buzz Book. You'll need to enter a User Name and Password; jot them down so you can return and add or change information later. Be sure to include your e-mail address if you want to receive e-mails from other classmates or the reunion committee. Expect a delay before your profile is displayed on the page, perhaps up to 24 hours.
Click on the Add Your Profile button to include your current contact information in our Buzz Book. You'll need to enter a User Name and Password; jot them down so you can return and add or change information later. Be sure to include your e-mail address if you want to receive e-mails from other classmates or the reunion committee. Expect a delay before your profile is displayed on the page, perhaps up to 24 hours.
David Nelson
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Tell us about yourself: Retired in 2004. Lived in Florida in retirement. Moved back to home in Minnesota in 2012 currently on "transplant list" for receiving new heart. | |
Carol Neugebauer (Maschino)
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 4 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
|
Comment:
I married my high school sweetheart and classmate, Mel Hoff, in 1964. Together we had three wonderful active sons. During our 28 year marriage, we lived in Sioux Falls, Bloomington, IN, and Marietta, GA. In 1993 Mel passed away from diabetes and heart problems. After his passing, I attended a widowed persons’ support group. It was there that I met my husband Len, who was also widowed and the father of two sons, the youngest of whom passed away in 2008. We eventually decided to blend our families and were married in 1995. We presently have six grandchildren, 3 girls and 3 boys. I retired in 2000 from office administration and Len retired last year from civil engineering and surveying. We are now enjoying traveling to all of the places on our bucket list, and more importantly spending lots of time with our family and spoiling our grandchildren. In summary, my life has been blessed beyond any aspirations that I might have had in my younger years. I am anxious to see all of you who are able to attend the 50-year reunion, to renew old acquaintances, and share many fond memories of WSHS!
|
|
Kate (Kathy) O'Rielly
Now
| Marital status: | Single again |
|---|---|
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | semi retired |
|
Comment:
Retired from US West as Marketing Director. Currently working at Nordstrom after getting bored working for myself. |
|
|
Tell us about yourself:
In 50 years I have had no regrets. Married Don Kingery in 1963 and moved to Northern California where we had two children. Divorced in 1967 and returned to South Dakota. Went to work for Ma Bell and fell in love with Bob Clausen who was returning from VietNam. We moved to Oregon and had another daughter. Divorced from Bob in 1980. Yes, I believe I might be relationship challenged. I started as a clerk at Ma Bell in 1967 and retired in 1990 as a Director of Marketing. During my career I held Public Spokesperson, Public Relations positions and worked in almost all departments. When I retired I started my own Marketing/Public Relations business. O'Rielly & Associates. It was fun but hiring/writing/digging up new clients all the time was not my cup of tea. I kept wishing for the large support team I had before I retired.I still have clients that come to me for pr and editing work but do it only parttime. To integrate myself back into the more active world, I went to work at Nordstrom. It's a high end department store and keeps me young, working with young people. I do pr work for the store manager and assist in marketing. I enjoy my 7 grandchildren and 1 great granddaugher. They are all grown up now but always seem to make time to be with 'Mops'. I have fond and confusing memories of my time in high school. My BFF Jan always said 'We either have to live up to or live down our reputations from high school.' Which one are you? |
|
Bonnie Oscarson (Knudsen)
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 4 |
| Occupation: | Retired Accountant |
| Tell us about yourself: I did accounting & income tax for 48 years while raising 4 children. 3 of my 4 children are married and I have 7 grandchildren. My 2 oldest grandson's married within the past 6 months, so am looking forward to the next generation. My second husband, Oscy, and I have been married 30 years this year. We moved to a ranch style house 2 years ago after I had knee surgery. I am enjoying retirement and do not miss tax season AT ALL!! | |
Edward Page
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Widowed |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
|
Comment:
|
|
| Tell us about yourself: Graduated from SDSU in 1966 and commissioned in the Air Force. Retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1988. Retired from Civil Service in 1994. Retired from Northrop Grumman in 2006. Was married to my wife Ann for 38 1/2 years. I have three granddaughter ages 9, 7, and 5. I now get up every morning at the crack of 0900, but sometimes I sleep late. | |
Leo "Duke" Papas
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired Federal Judge |
|
Comment:
As we age, the more we realize how meaningful our time at WSHS was to our lives; we were surrounded by bright friends and colleagues and prepared by our teachers and administrators to face the real world. While our number is dwindling we remain strong and we should remember the contributions of those who have left before us. Join me as I raise a glass and say, "here's to absent companions." |
|
| Tell us about yourself: College (football -- all-conf; honorable mention all-american); law school (president of student bar); USMC (Outstanding Leadership award) (JAG); private practice 15+ years; Federal Judge 18+ years; resigned from bench in 2009 and am now in "encore career" doing private mediation throughout California; voted Top 50 Mediators in California each year since resignation -- still chugging along. Washington Senior High School Athletic Hall of Fame; I have a beautiful, bright wife, Bev; two wonderful children, Sara (computer graphics design); Zach (Masters in Special Ed from Columbia); and, two fantastic grandchildren, Sam 7 and Lexie 4 -- and I spoil them as often as I can. | |
Lyle Parks
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | National Accounts Manager |
|
Comment:
|
|
|
Tell us about yourself:
I married Margie Sherman, class of '63 and we have two children, four grandsons and finally one recent addition of a beautiful granddaughter. I attended Sioux Falls College and later The Omaha School of Art, a Commerciail Art school that no longer exists, followed by 24 years as an Art Director in Commercial Advertising and the last 23 years as National Accounts Manager for CCL Label out of Toronto, Canada and still employed. It hasn't been all about work though. Margie and I have been part of the SD Archaeological Society for about 30 some years, her as an officer with me performing field work relative to Plains Indian Cultures for the Research Center in Rapid City and the Augustana College Archaeology Lab in Sioux Falls. Together Margie and I have enjoyed years of canoeing, hiking, biking and actually a few years of roller blading. There have been many boundary waters canoe trips with my son and daughter and friends and years of art in one fashion or another with many galleries and shows. The last 15 years have been influenced by those years of Archaeology field work and I have been carving stone and working clay into anthropomorphic figures and casting to bronze, with more shows in galleries and more recenly placement in Sculpture Walks like the one in Sioux Falls. Luckily, this is not a source of income, but rather a method of enriching the foundries that make my castings. In conclusion, I am happy to have been a product of WSHS and the many fine art instructors I had through the years to include Ms. Park at Longfellow Grade School, Mr Ashbacher at Patrick Henry Jr. High, Mr. Shermoe at Washington High, George Bucher of the University of Pennsylvania, on loan to Sioux Falls College and many more influential people like Prof. Ogden Dalrymple, Steve Thomas and Robert Aldern of Augustana College and Floyd DeWitt, Montana Sculptor. What would life be without the good people that dedicate their lives to teaching others. Life is Good! |
|
Jim Peterson
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired Aerospace Industry |
| Comment: | |
| Tell us about yourself: Diane and I have had a wonderful life together (almost 40 years) working, playing and raising a family. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, my dream of being a pilot was fulfilled. I served 5+ years in the Air Force and met Diane in California upon returning from Vietnam. She is the entreprenuer in the family having run several small businesses before retiring. I spent 30 years in the Aerospace Industry in engineering, customer service and executive management retiring in 2004. We raised 2 fine sons one who is in the music industry and the other a software engineer. Just in the last 6 months we have been blessed with a grandson that has changed our lives and priorities. Currently we live in Colorado and Arizona with travels mostly to Nashville, Dallas, and Southern California. | |
Gene Piersa
| Marital status: | Divorced |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Sculptor full time |
|
Comment:
I stay focused on the present to enjoy it the most. I don't like going in reverse or the past. The future is always a gift. |
|
| Tell us about yourself: I'm retired, finally able to do the work I always wanted to. | |
Cheryl Pittenger Cone Pittenger (Pittenger)
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Committed Relationship |
|---|---|
| Children: | 4 |
| Occupation: | Artist and writer. Retired teacher and tutor. |
|
Comment:
I married former WSHS classmate Fred Cone in Seattle in 1967. We had four children and divorced in 1995. After living for 30 + years in Seattle, Kenmore, and a studio in Seattle's Pike Place Market, I moved back to South Dakota in 1999. In 2001 I had an old farmhouse moved onto property homesteaded by Grandpa Pittenger and his two brothers. The 18.67 acres is located ten miles south of Brookings. I lived there one year without electricity and two years without water. Cooked and heated with an old cookstove. Civilized now with lights, water, and indoor plumbing. I have four children: Adam, 43; Aaron, 40; Frederic, 35; and Heather, 33. I have one granddaughter: Daphne Reba Crosleycone who will be one in September (Aaron and Wren are her parents). Through Facebook former WSHS classmate Bob Gieser and I reconnected in January of 2011 - having seen each other last when we graduated from high school. Bob moved here to the farm from Oregon in July, 2011. My soulmate and I plan to be married on September 9, 2012 here on the farm. |
|
|
Tell us about yourself:
I graduated from Augustana College in 1965 with a major in French and a minor in English. Selected Art Resume: Seattle Art Museum exhibitions; group shows at Seattle galleries and museums; the Corcoran Gallery; MIT; LaJolla Museum; National Gallery of Women in the Arts, Washinton, D.C.; and so on. Two-person show in Seattle. Have shown with deKooning, Wiley, Oldenberg, and so on. Augustana Art: Then and Now Alumni Invitational. Published a book for children. Former Artist-in-Residence with the City of Seattle. Former Artist-in-Residence with King County, WA. Currently showing at Brookings Arts Council. Writing a book about the family before my four kids write a Mommy Dearest book about me. |
|