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.

Richard (Dick) Heinemeyer (Heinemeyer)

Now Now
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Retired Architect
Tell us about yourself: I just finished editing my original too-long history and hope that this one is more readable.



In the spring of 1960, my mother graduated from Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell and took a job teaching at Axtel Park Jr High in Sioux Falls. The move put me in WHS for my last two years of high school. I had a wonderful time there and never have regretted the move.



College was at ISU in Ames where I studied architecture and a bunch of other stuff so long that it took me 6 years to complete a 5-year B. Arch. Avoiding the draft, I enlisted in the Navy and spent 3 very satisfying years administering construction projects in the Philippines. Released from the Navy Civil Engineer Corp in November of '71, I finally ended up (to stay) in Denver three months later.



After obtaining my Architect's license, I used my VA benefits to get a one-year M. Arch from CU in Boulder (1976). I began working for a firm that did mostly passive solar projects and I loved it. I find it odd but validating to think that that it took another 30 years for interest in clean energy and sustainability to finally reach public awareness.



Divorced in 1977,I spent the next few single years designing and owner-building a solar house. Also met Diana G. from Alvo, NE and we were married on the day before Valentines Day 1982. Diana lived through the nail-biting startup of my small architectural firm that first year and all the ups and downs since. She's now retired from being the business manager of a branding/graphic design firm and I finally retired after selling the firm on the first day of 2011.



Diana and I are on our own - no children, but adore our nieces, nephews and now grand nieces and nephews. We both enjoy traveling and are off to Bulgaria just after reunion 55 in September. We have found a patio home with a down-sized yard in Denver's Lowry neighborhood where we can walk to almost every essential place we need to go and it's easier to "lock and leave".



Volunteering to advise our HOA on issues of design, construction and maintenance occupies a chunk of my time now. Other diversions are puttering in the shop, fishing, hunting with fellow WHS grad Jon Scherschligt, plus volleyball, a passion that struck me while in the Navy. Retirement is good, but for some reason feels way too busy. I'm sure that feeling is generated by the extra time it takes to do most everything!



I have sent my reservation for the 55th reunion and hope to see many of you there too.



RH

Lory Hiley (Van Vleet)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: retired teacher
Comment: I have 6 grandkids, and they all live closeby in Central Texas. I've lived in Tx for 37 years...no drawl...yet! Both daughters graduated from U of Texas...so we are Longhorn fans! Married an Iowa guy in 1968.


Prequel: Grad. from USD, moved to MPLS to teach 1st grade in Edina schools, met husband Art, married and moved to Milwaukee. We lived there 7 years, had two daughters, and moved waaaaay south to TX in 1975.

Betty Hill (Keller)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Retired
Comment:
Tell us about yourself: I married fellow classmate Steve Hill in 1962 and after 50 years we are still happily married. That in itself is quite an accomplishment. I worked as a nurse, mostly in office settings for 32 years until I officially "hung up my stethoscope" and retired in 1998. Since then I've been actively involved in the lives of my children and 4 grandkids all of whom live within a few miles of us. We are so blessed to have them all so close. Steve and I are both very active in our church holding numerous positions and volunteering for many others. We lived in Sioux Falls for 23 years, Rapid City for 5 and the last 23 years in the Boise valley. We love it here in 'God's Country'. We split our time between Meridian and our mountain/lake home in beautiful Cascade Idaho. We usually spend 1 month in Hawaii every other winter. We are looking forward to renewing some old friendships at the reunion. Hope you recognize us as gravity and rigormortis has set in but ...oh well at least I'm still above ground!! See ya soon!

Steven Hill

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: General Contractor
Comment:
Tell us about yourself: I married my high school sweetheart and fellow classmate Betty Keller in 1962 and we are still happily married after 50 years. We have 2 sons, a daughter, and 4 grandchildren that all live within a few miles of our home. One son owns a construction company, one is a Boise police officer and our daughter is an RN. We are blessed!!

We lived in Sioux Falls for about 23 years after highschool where I was a Sioux Falls Firefighter for 8 1/2 years and a general contractor. I was the Manager of Construction nationally for Shopko Stores and Supervalue the remaining years in Sioux Falls and for 5 years in Rapid City. We then relocated to the Boise valley where I purchased a dormant construction company called Engineered Structures Inc. ESI is a nationally known commercial/retail company working in 34 states. I sold the company to our son Tom in 2004. I quickly became bored with retirement and opened a new small commercial construction company where I tinker daily.



In 2004 I built myself a rental building and kept 6000 sq ft for a \\\'mancave\\\' classic car shop called Big Daddy\\\'s Wheels (see it on my website under \\\'Projects\\\')with a 50\\\'s theme party room. Betty and I enjoy hosting many parties and events there.



We split our time between our home here and our mountain/lake home in beautiful Cascade, Idaho. We also spend one month in Hawaii every other winter. Looking forward to that this coming winter. We love living in Idaho or \\\'God\\\'s country\\\' as we call it.



We\\\'re bringing our highschool car to the reunion. It is a 1956 Chrysler, New Yorker 2 door hard top, red, black and white. Anyone out there remember us in that one??



We are both very active in our church, serving on various boards and many volunteer positions. I also serve on the Foundations Board of Directors for Northwest Nazarene University and Idaho Sports Foundation. We have been life long Christians and praise God for everything He has done for us. We have not been without heartaches but who of us has? See you all soon God willing.

Betsy Hixson (Turnbull)

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired scientific sales
Comment: I'm so sorry I missed the 50th.  My mom moved from Sioux Falls in 2001 and I've lost touch.  I found this site looking for Sandy Evans.  Im so saddened to learn she died.  Hope to get to a future reunion.
Tell us about yourself: I retired 2 years ago and now am traveling in our RV. We still have our home in Atlanta which is where our 2 boys live.



betsyhixson@hotmail.com

Stephanie Holcomb (Springer)

Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 4
Occupation: Retired
Comment: Sorry not to be there with you, Pat and Jan.  Hope to see you in Az in 2013!!  Take pictures and tell me all about it!
Tell us about yourself: Okay, Tell us about yourself??? WOW! Long story short!!After being widowed at age 48, married - one more time- at age 60 and let me tell you there's a lot of livin' left!! I have 4 really cool kids,9 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. It is never dull around this place. Have lived and worked on both coasts and several places in between. Even moved back to Sx Falls in 1972 for a few months. Love Sioux Falls!! Retired from Omaha Steaks - however busier than ever with family and friends. Still working on the bridge game and spend most mornings doing all those things Dr Oz says will allow you to live to see your 60th high school reunion cause I can't make this one! So bummed!

Ray Horner

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: retired
Comment: nice web site
Tell us about yourself: Graduated from USD (huray!) Played with the YMCA (North Central Area Physical Director, Iowa Physical Dir of the Year, National Leadership Director) Bus Driver For Bill McKean, owner and operator Owl liquior store, Played again with YMCA, retired, worked at Hardee's, Physical Theropy Tech, Diesel fuel clerk, retired! 3 son, 5 grandchildren and living LARGE IN BELLA VISTA!!!

[You will find Ray's obituary on the In Memory page.]

Robert Hurwitz

Marital status: Married
Children: 5
Occupation: Retired
Comment: 50-50 chance of attending reunion; recent June "reunion" w/ Carole Brown in PA encouraged me to adjust schedule to try to attend.
Tell us about yourself: Reside in Balt., MD, area since 1991; retired from YORK Intl. Corp. (HVAC Sales Engr.)in 1999. Attended U of Mich. ('66 BSE Aerospace); worked for Trane Co. (HVAC) in both Omaha, NE (1966-1988), and Tulsa, OK ("Okie") (1988-1991). Five children (2 via second marriage); Ten grandchildren (3 via son's remarriage), living in Wash., DC; Cleveland, OH; Omaha, NE; Bay Area, CA; unmarried son in Jarkata, Indonesia. Activities/ interests include: NASCAR junkie; Temple facilities & choir; fitness; travel; volunteeing; Census & Voting electronic info. processing;

James Jackson

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Committed Relationship
Children: 5
Occupation: Retired Crank
Comment:
Tell us about yourself: It is hardly an accomplishment, but a term of years from 1962 to the present day, for me, can be characterized neatly as mightily blessed. Dumb luck figures into all of the things I remember fondly and benign neglect accounts for the rest. After all, one fortunate enough to be loved by Carole Brown is fortunate enough.

Fabulous Jadesmen

Then Then
Now Now
Comment:
Tell us about yourself: In the 1950s, a group of Edison Junior High School students, including Tim Moratzka, Wally Doolittle, Edgar Borgers, and Butch Noteboom performed for a school talent show. As the band moved from the school auditorium to professional dance halls, WSHS students Moratzka, Noteboom, Dennis White, Greg Weeg, Dave Campbell and, later, Rich Stevenson became known as The Jades and then The Fabulous Jadesmen. With graduation from WSHS, Noteboom and White entered the armed forces and Moratzka enrolled in Augustana. The Fabulous Jadesmen continued throughout Moratzka's four years at Augustana with several different members until two other WSHS classmates, Bruce Halverson and Skip Engle, joined the group along with Sioux City drummer Reuben Hanson. After Halverson and Moratzka graduated from Augustana, the band took a hiatus for almost 30 years, but then the group reunited. For the past 15 years, The Fabulous Jadesmen have performed throughout the Midwest and deep into the South playing the hits of the 50s and 60s. With new knees, arthritis, and heart pills, The Fabulous Jadesmen continue to rock and their audiences celebrate the great memories of years gone by.