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.

Mary Swanson (Nordlie)

Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Mom & Grandma
Comment:  
Tell us about yourself: After graduation from WSHS I worked at the Argus Leader in the Circulation Department for 3 years. In 1965, Alan Swanson and I were married and we moved to Rapid City where Alan was a student at the School of Mines. I worked as a dental assistant until 1968 when our son, David, was born.

We moved to Massachusetts in 1968 where Alan completed his graduate studies at MIT. While at MIT, we worked and lived at the Cedar Hill Girl Scout Camp in Waltham, MA where we earned our rent as caretakers. I also worked part-time in the Girl Scout office.

Our daughter, Lisa, was born in 1976 - a bicentennial baby. I enjoyed living in the Boston area for 15 years.

We next moved to Barrington, IL in 1982 and then to Syracuse, NY, in 1986 for 10 years and to Bedford, NH in 1996. We retired to Sioux Falls in 2006. Both Alan and I wanted to come home to SD and to be close to our daughter, Lisa, and our grandchildren, Christian-4, and Abigail-2, who live in Pierre. Our daughter is a full-time mother and part-time veterinarian since our grandson was born in 2008. Her husband, Chris Stanley, is a radiologist.

Our son, David, and his wife, Amy, live in Bloomfield, CT where he works for Ernst & Young as network security consultant. He recently retired as a Lt. Commander from the Naval Reserve after 21 years on active and reserve duty. We traveled to Boston for his retirement where the ceremony was held on the deck of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) in Boston harbor.

In retirement, I still enjoy designing clothes and sewing. I also work in my flower garden and volunteer with the FIRST LEGO League which Alan started in SD several years ago. We enjoy traveling each year in the US and Europe.

Jane Tarr (Krambeck)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Divorced
Children: 3
Occupation: retired
Comment:
Tell us about yourself: I was married in 1963, had 3 children (2 daughters and 1 son), divorced in 1984.



1965 - 1969 - Lived in California (Long Beach, Santa Monica and Simi Valley). Worked at Bank of America until we moved east!

1969 - 1978 -Lived in western Pennsylvanis on a 140 acre ranch where we raised cattle and horses. Was a stay at home mom and resident "barn cleaner". Enjoyed the country life.



1978 - 1982 - Husband accepted a position with ARAMCO and we moved to Saudi Arabia. Wonderful cultural experience and opportunity for travel. Visited Greece, Switzerland, Bharain, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China; as well as traveling through many US parks on family vacations. Worked as an attendence clerk for the school.



1983 - 1989 - Moved to Sioux Falls after the breakup of my marriage. Began my career with Citibank in the Treasury department. Worked on many projects which took me to New York, Jacksonville, St Louis, and Las Vegas.



1989 - present - Living in Henderson, NV. Transferred with Citibank to Las Vegas to take over a management position in the Treasury department. Responsibilities increased with additional duties in Financial Control and Transaction Services. Had several long "out of town" assignments at other Citibank locations to assist in development and implementation of new applications. Retired in 2005, tired of being "used" and "abused".



Raised 3 wonderful children: Dawn who lives in Maryland with her husband and 5 adoped children. She is a teacher specializing in Early Childhood Development. Tamara lives in Henderson, NV with her Husband and 2 children. She is also a teacher and has been teaching Kindergarten at an "at risk" school for 23 years. George lives in Las Vegas, NV with his wife and 2 children. He works for Metro Police department in their IT department. My 9 grandchildren range in age from 16 - 4 (5 boys and 3 girls). Love spending time with them, spoiling them and sending them home to Mom and Dad!!

Had big plans on doing a lot of traveling to exotic places after retirement, unfortunately I was the only retired in my small circle of friends! So, I spent time doing crafts, home improvement projects, volunteering in my daughter's Kindergarten classroom, and supporting grandkids in their extra curricular activities; recitals, pole vaulting, soccer, flag football).



Am looking forward to the reunion.

Patricia Taylor (Nelson)

Marital status: Married
Children: 4
Occupation: Semi-Retired
Comment: While pondering what to write that would sum up these past fifty years, I took a look at what I wrote for the twentieth reunion.  What was true then continues to be true today - that many things change - our looks, our likes and our loves.  It took three tries, but I married George, the blessing in my life, in 1996, the same year I retired from U S WEST.  We have a combined total of seven children, ages 31 to almost 49; fourteen grandchildren, ages almost one year to 21 years; and three little greats.

Three of my four children are WSHS grads:  Tammy Rice ('81) lives in the Twin Cities; Terry Rice Hinders ('83) is in Williamsburg, VA; and Tom Rice ('86) is in Gayville, SD.  My youngest, Jared Skaff (J.J.) is here in Omaha.   U S WEST transferred me to Omaha the day after Tom graduated and that fall J.J. started Kindergarten.

Over the years I've been fortunate to have taveled to Spain, Iceland, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Mexico and much of the U.S.  George and I enjoy spending January through March in the Phoenix, AZ area, which has brought us many new friends from all over the U.S and Canada.

We continue to work part time, but we're loving this empty-nest period of life.  This past winter I started writing my life story.  It makes me stop and think about all people our age have experienced.  We enjoy being active and thanks to my new hips and George's new knees (making us the bionic couple), we can keep up with our grandchildren and our couple of acres.  He gardens, while I can and freeze the produce.  I'd still rather read than do housework, and a good sale is hard to pass up.  All in all, I feel truly blessed and have so much in life for which to be thankful!

William Thomas

Now Now
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Retired Master Journeyman Pipefitter
Tell us about yourself: Attempted to join the Marines, but was too young and Dad said no way. So went to college for a while. Completed an AA at Peninsula Community College and met my wife, Nina. Worked at Boeing in Renton, Washington where I worked on the SST until cancelation. Thenwent to work for Rayonier Inc (later ITT Rayonier) in 1968 where I work for the next 28 years.


My next career has been as an environment activist, working to clean up the former Rayonier millsite and other project. I currently assist my wife on our organic farm. We will not be able to attend the reunion as the carbon footprint is too great and it is during our harvest time. Keep it clean and green.

Glenda Thors (Jorgensen)

Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired music teacher
Comment: Lots of people in our class--it'll be interesting to try to remember them at the reunion!
Tell us about yourself: Graduated from Bethel College in St. Paul in \'66 and have hardly moved from this area since--still live within 3 miles of the school! Married to a marvelous man--retired sales rep for Ford Motor Company; have a beautiful daughter who is an accountant at the University in Duluth. I love to ski, play golf, knit, sew, entertain, and participate in musical activities.

Donna Todd (Olinger)

Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired
Comment:

Donna Tupper (Turley)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Director of Admissions
Comment:

This is a wonderful website....I feel that my Beadle, Longfellow, Patrick Henry, and Washington experiences were all a very good foundation for a great life.  Did return for our 30th but haven't made any of the others.  Not sure about this year yet.
Tell us about yourself: Graduated from Yankton College with a bachelors in English education. Met husband Jerry there. Married for 46 years. We spent three years in Hartford, Connecticut while my husband was in seminary. Been back in Illinois since 1970. Have two sons and four grandchildren. Love the work I have done for the last 25 years as director of admissions and Alzheimer's Support Group leader at a skilled nursing facility. Haven't figured out any good reason to retire yet! Jerry and I enjoy the kids and grandkids, our dog, camping, photography. Our faith in God, prayer, and our church are our most important priorities. Do return to SF to visit Mom who is 93, living at Prince of Peace, and very alert. Still try to get together with Waltraud Schwab Plagman, Sandy Schuh Entenmann, and Luann Jensen Decker when in town.

Paul VanDerSchaaf

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 5
Occupation: Senior Investment Management Consultant
Comment: It's sad to have lost a number of our wonderful classmates... I pray that those still with us, continue to have many wonderful years ahead...Blessings to all..
Tell us about yourself: Likely will miss 50 reunion as my mother who turned 104 in May is at Good Samaritan , Geneseo, IL and her health is failing...she has her good and bad days, but been blessed with a good life.

Bout self: Graduated 1966 with B.S. (Biology Major) from Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, MN., Kansas State University M.S. Degree 1968 and Ph.D Degree 1970 in Entomology/Agronomy, taught Biology/Physiology at Wisc. State Univ. 1971, Agriculture Research - Dow Chemical 10 years, moved to Geneseo, IL (near Quad Cities of IA/IL) as President/Owner VanDerSchaaf Agricultural Research Inc. 1980-91, Financial Advisor/Sr. Invest. Management Consultant- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney 20 years-retired Feb. 2013. Many interests with family: enjoy travel (20 Cruises), sports, music, theme parks, water parks, etc. with ACTIVE kids, grandkids. Second marriage- my wife Janet is a wonderful, vibrant retired R.N., who is active with mission work in Haiti, Katrina relief and others, AND works long Grandma hours. I still play guitar, banjo, formed a Men\\\\\\\'s Gospel Quartet called the Pleasant Valley Men 30 years ago and provide many worship experiences at Grace Methodist Church-Geneseo as well as about 40 others in the area, and active in a number of areas. Try to stay healthy via very active with road bike (cycling) , hunting, trap/sporting clay shooting, golf, but I had to give up Tennis because of back issues. Pilot of single engine Grumman Tiger airplane. Favorite scripture and music: \\\\\\\'Because He Lives\\\\\\\' by Gaither Vocal Band.

Marlene Walch (Lyon)

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Retired
Comment: We have lived various places (Fargo, Washington DC, Baltimore, Princeton NJ, Chicago) since graduation from college but have been in Boston for the last 26 years.  Our children/grandchildren are all within an hours drive from Boston so this is definitely home. 

Wallace Werner

Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Physician
Comment: We've just learned that Wally (he was called James) passed away in 2014.  His obituary is in the post on the In Memory page.  His comments from 2013:  The "now" picture is me, my wife Susan and our first (and only) grandson, Vegas.