1958 Classmates Bios page 8

Leonard Hansen (Leo)
Sturgis, SD

May 1958, the morning after graduation, I headed east of the river to operate Dad's farm near Platte, SD. After the harvest I returned to Sturgis.

1959--1963... I lived in Sturgis and had various work adventures including:
Dick's Standard, Barker House Moving, Howard's Dairy, Finley Construction and
Wackenhut Security Guard on Titan Missile site. I completed an Electronics course and received an associates degree from DeVry Technical Institute.
I joined the National Guard and after enjoying my tour of Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and Ft. Benning, GA, I returned to Sturgis.

September 1963, I packed all my worldly goods and headed for Colorado to accept a job offer with Martin Marietta building test tools for the Titan 3 Missile program. This was a Government Contract so it was short lived. I had the opportunity to transfer to California, however, I had met a “Young Girl“--this changed everything! Now I needed a local job! Western Electric (Manufacture and Supply unit of the Bell System) was hiring. In March 1964, I started my career with their installation team installing switching equipment in the Denver and Lakewood offices. In the fall of 1964, I was transferred to the new Western Electric Engineering Office in Aurora, CO. There I worked with Telephone Switching Offices throughout the western U.S. Since I couldn’t attend the National Guard weekend meetings in Sturgis, I transferred to an Army Reserve Unit in Denver where I completed my tour of duty.

March 1965, I married Marilyn, "that Young Girl". She worked for the Arapahoe County Clerk & Recorder, who was so happy to see her get married that she issued & paid for our marriage license. Marilyn later became the supervisor of the Arapahoe Co. satellite office in Aurora, where we lived. We have three boys (my three sons) born 1968, 1969 and 1977. They have given us three Granddaughters and one Grandson.

In 1979 Marilyn and I along with several friends traveled through the Holy Lands which involved some airport hopping; London, Paris, Rome, Beirut, & Amman. From Amman, Jordan we traveled by bus through the barren desert to Petra, then horseback through the rock canyon. After the tour of Jordan we bused to Israel where we sailed the Sea of Galilee, walked the streets of Bethlehem & Jerusalem. On the return trip we stopped in Athens, Greece where we climbed Mars Hill & the steps of the Acropolis, watched the changing of the guard & took a bus tour of the country. These were just some of the highlights.

During the early 1980’s, the Bell System breakup took place which put me in the A T & T division. June 1985 we were moved to the A T & T Engineering Office in Atlanta, GA, where I had the opportunity to turn down and close all 4A Toll Switching Offices throughout the U.S. ( more travel time). In 1988, I became part of the Account Management Department as Account Manager in charge of New Project Development working with Bell Labs until I retired, December 30th 1989.

After retiring, I hired back under contract with AT&T, as needed, during peak engineering load and special projects until we moved back to Sturgis in 1991.

Throughout the years, as a side line, my hobby has been woodworking, cabinets, remodeling, additions etc. I have remodeled every house we lived in, so upon retiring I continued with this hobby. Mr. Hale taught me well! I will do this until I decide what I want to be when I grow up.

Combining job and personal travel, I have visited all but six states: AK, CT, HI, NH, RI, VT. We hope to add these to the list in the near future, when Marilyn is old enough to retire!! We spend as much time as possible with our grandkids.

Do you remember History with Buell Woodle? He was an environmentalist ahead of his time with his recycled test papers, "don’t mark on them, they must last a lifetime", at least until he retired.

I am a recovering workaholic going through withdrawals. Presently in group therapy four to six times a week, where we discuss our past, as we can remember it, and important truths, as we perceive them to be. This takes place over a cup of coffee, to keep us alert, at the local McDonalds.

1965 Leo and Marilyn Hansen 2006

Granddaughters Laken, Peytyn, Jordyn

Grandson Zaiden

Papa & Zaiden

The Hansen Family Christmas 2004

Sharon Bartlett Holdahl
Newberg, OR

OH, MY! Where did 50 years go and what have I done since high school?

My first marriage was a horrible mistake but the result was 4 wonderful sons, Terry, Dean, Robin and Laine. We divorced before Laine was born.

I was trying to raise 4 sons alone, scraping by, doing day care, working as a waitress, cleaning houses, etc.

In 1961, I was working at the Steak House Café in Sturgis, when the man of my dreams, best friend and love of my life walked into my world. Merril Holdahl, from Lemmon, SD, was working on the missile sites near Newell. He had never been married so I couldn’t believe (nor could anyone else) he would be willing to take on a readymade family and raise them as his own, but that he did. We were married in 1962 at the United Methodist Church in Sturgis. Our daughter Shanna was born in July 1963.

In October of ‘63 we moved bag and baggage to Tigard, OR where Merril was working in heavy construction. Merril’s dream had always been to be a gentleman farmer so we bought property near Newberg. OR and began building a house. We moved into our home in July 1973. We raised beef cows, pigs, sheep, goats, geese, rabbits and children (not all at the same time). Merril continued working construction while taking care of our little farm. I was a busy stay at home mom until the kids were in Middle School and High School and then I worked part time at various jobs. At one time I was in partnership with other ladies in a bridal shop. It was fun but stressful so after a time I gave that up and went to work as a receptionist at the Newberg School District Office. Part of my job was to hire substitute teachers. That lasted until budget cuts and computer technology eliminated that job. I then went to work at a Christian Publishing Company. It was a great job and I learned so much.

In Sept. of 2000 Merril was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I first took a leave of absence but soon realized that I needed to resign to be with Merril. He fought the good fight but was not able to overcome the dreaded disease. He died at home, Sept. 23, 2002.

In 2006 I sold our little farm; I kept 2 acres and the barn, bought a little house in town and tried to adjust to life in town. In Newberg I work one or two days a week at Friendsview Retirement Community. It’s a great place to interact with people.

I spend the winter months in Yuma, AZ with a friend whose husband died a few months after mine. I enjoy knitting, hand crafts, playing table games and always doing things with the grandchildren. While in Yuma I volunteer at Habitat for Humanity.

My life revolves around my God, my church, my family, and my friends, and I am so grateful for all of that. I can’t forget to mention my little dachshund, Baxter, who doesn’t know he’s a dog.

Geraldine Wiesz Fischer
Sturgis, sd

Geraldine worked after school and then married Dale Barry. She was a stay at home mom until her two children, Steve (Sturgis) and Barbara Hardman (Whitewood) were raised. Dale Died in 1988, and she went back to work as a video lottery tech at Black Hills Novelty where she stayed until 2004.

In 2004, she married Dorven Fischer. They enjoy fishing, have traveled in their motor home to several states, and are just generally enjoying life. They have six grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all in Spearfish.

Norma Orr Weyer
Sturgis, SD

Norma married Jerry Weyer in 1956 and they had four children. Jerry was in the grocery business so they lived in different places around the Hills... Lead, Belle, Spearfish and Sturgis. They then moved to Ft. Collins, CO where Jerry worked in a grocery store for about a year, then to Englewood, CO for three years and Albuquerque for about 6 months.

Norma has an elderly care home now, in Sturgis, where she cares for 6 elderly people. She also has a video lottery business in Sturgis.

A couple of years ago she and her sister Betty took a cruise to Europe and were gone about 3 weeks. They had a great time, spending a few days in Barcelona, Portugal, and some time in Africa. She really enjoyed that.

Her son Wayne lives in Sturgis and her daughter Donna lives in Stagebarn, by Black Hawk. Donna has 2 daughters, Norma's grandchildren.

Norma enjoyed school and all the people there. She has enjoyed seeing different classmates from time to time in Sturgis, and looks forward to seeing everyone at the 50th Reunion.

Vera Stone Leiseth
Grand Junction, co
Verna Stone Wiler
Moab, UT

Vera Stone Leiseth's husband died early in their marriage. She has two step-children that she adores, Scott and Kary, who have been like her own children. They both live only two hours away. Vera has 9 grandkids and 8 great grandkids, and lives in Grand Junction, CO.

Vera is proud of her 1978 restored Cadillac, maroon with maroon leather seats. She is happily single and enjoying life.

Verna stone married Bill Wiler in Moab, UT 48 years ago. They have two sons, Mike who lives in Moab and is a police officer and Jim who lives in Price, UT and is a welder.

Verna owned her own house cleaning service before she retired.

Verna and Vera moved to Moab, UT during their sophomore year at Sturgis High School. They have accepted life's ups and downs and through it all they have managed to have a great attitude about life..... and are both still naturally red headed!

Karen Westburg Rossow
Sturgis, SD

Karen got married in January of 1959, right after graduation. They had a cabinet business in Whitewood. They had 5 children, identical twin girls, another girl and two boys. The kids live in Sturgis, Gillette, Helena and Ennis, MT and Hawaii. Karen has 6 grandchildren, two boys and four girls.

She was a stay at home mom until her divorce in 1981. She was raising her children, and went to school in Rapid City to get her LPN degree. Then at age 50 she graduated in Miles City, MT with her RN degree. Karen has worked in nursing for 27 years in Montana and South Dakota with the last 11 years in Hospice Nursing. She is very excited as March 28th is her last day and she will be all retired by April 1, 2008.

She moved in with her mom who will soon be 90, three years ago, to help care for her. She said she has "gone to the dogs".... replaced any men in her life with a darling dog, "Lucky", who sits on her moms lap all day and protects her, and greets Karen at the end of the work day.

As far as school memories, the one that came to mind was English Class and Bloody Lil. She assigned an essay, so Karen ran home and wrote 10 of them. She kept the best one, and sold the other 9 for 25c each. Everyone got A's except her. She got a "F". Mrs. Anderson told her she had a very distinctive writing style and she could tell she had done all of them! Protesting would be to no avail!

Karen and her three daughters are going to Egypt next fall. Last June she accompanied a class of 14 and 15 year old girls to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. She was so excited to see the sights, but all the girls wanted to do was shop.

Geri Burdick Todriff
Kingman, AZ

Geri has lived in Kingman, AZ for 18 years. She is a medical technologist, retired but working part time, a couple of days a week. She divorced in 1974 and is happily enjoying her single life. Geri has 2 boys and 1 girl, 7 grandchildren, 2 dogs and 2 cats.

Randy is the oldest child, lives in Germany and it looks as though he may be going to Iraq. Geri hopes to get to Germany before he goes. Randy has 4 kids.

Noelle is a Respiratory Therapist in Grand Junction, CO. She was divorced but will be married again in December. Noelle has no children.

Todd lives in Kingman, and has 3 kids. He works at a truck and car repair service.

Geri enjoys home, her grandkids, and traveling as much as possible including Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico.

She has many good memories of SHS and friends there and plans to see all her old friends and classmates in September.

JOYCE BACHAND EVANS
Christiana, TN

After high school, I got married and lived in Rapid City until 1960 when we moved to Tennessee that fall. After marriage came 5 children, Richard, Diane, Martin, Daniel, and Krystal. They all live near me, except Krystal, who lives in Milwaukee, WI. I have 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. We got a big surprise when in July 2007 my grandson blessed us with a set of twin girls.

I worked in a factory all my working years while raising our children on a farm. Between raising children, working, having big gardens and going to ball games, life was busy. In 1981, the children's Dad and I got a divorce. I stayed in Tennessee, working and staying busy.

In 1985, I married my present husband Lee, He is from Baltimore, Maryland. In 1979, he came to Tennessee on vacation, loved the state, went home, packed up, and moved to Tennessee. He has 3 children, Sherri, Steve, and Donna, 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. All of his family still live in Maryland and we go see them once or twice a year. We are blessed with our children, grandchildren, and the greats are coming too fast!!

Lee retired in 2001, and I retired in 2002. WOW!!, life was great. No more time clocks to punch. We traveled some. In 2002 we went on a 3 week vacation across Kentucky, to Niagara Falls, and to Portland, Maine. We got on the cruise ship, put our car on board and went to Novia Scotia. On the way home, we stopped to see Lee's family in Maryland. In 2005, we took a cruise to Alaska, There were 10 family members; the cruise ship will never be the same, after all 10 Bachands left!! Then in 2007, we made our way to Hawaii. My niece has a home there and she wanted us to see Hawaii. So for 10 unforgettable days, we lived it up. There were 7 family members, making the trip so much fun.

After 6 years of retirement, I needed something more in my life. Lo and behold, I went back to work. I should say a job with a lot of love and joy. I work 2 days a week, loving and spoiling my twin great granddaughters and their big brother. The twins, Hannah and Haley, will be one year old in July and Will, will be 2 in August. I have my hands full (with love) and the 2 days a week gives their Mother a nice break to do other things. Lee also came out of retirement and he works one day a week as a guard for a factory here in Shelbyville. As you can see, we stay busy. We are active in our church, with our families, and rest when we have time.

In my spare time, I like to scrapbook, make cards and of course watch Dr. Phil and Oprah!!! I do not know how I had time to punch a clock, or work 8 hours a day. Our home is in Shelbyville, Tennesse. If you are in the South give us a call and we will show you a southern good time. Life is great and we enjoy it. Bye ya'all.

Wayne Bachand
Newcastle, WY

Wayne has one daughter, Trava. After high school he was in the army and then went to college. He has worked as a Realtor in Denver, CO and Tucson, AZ. In retirement he enjoys traveling. Wayne regrets he won't be able to come to the reunion.

Darlene Welke
Spearfish, SD

Right after high school Darlene married William Lloyd Cash. They had one child, Robin. With her husband Ed Wolf she had twins Trudy (deceased) and Tracy, son Rowdy, son Forrest (deceased) and their baby girl Kelley. She married Carroll Humble who is deceased.

Darlene has 14 grandkids and 15 great grandkids and enjoys being near the family that lives in Belle and Newell; two of her children live in Alta, IA.

Darlene has worked in a shirt factory in Arkansas, as a cook and waitress in many restaurants and has managed many cafes also. She has worked at WalMart for 17 1/2 years. She likes to crochet and sew, read... play cards and is still working at WalMart. She enjoys some TV and her computer. She has lived in Arkansas, Wyoming, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa and South Dakota.

Her favorite memories of SHS are the prom and the fun of the big skirts that took up the entire stairway. She loved algebra and Doug Bell's class. She took a summer class at the college in Spearfish, in psychology. Darlene is looking forward to the Reunion.

Kathleen Kenstler Fox
Whitewood, SD

Kathleen married Jim Fox, the love of her life in the early 1960's. He died nine years ago and she says her life was so completely happy with him that she now gets by with her memories, beautiful beyond compare.

She had four children by a previous marriage, Debra, Brian, Terrence, and Denise. Jim had four children, Michael, Victor, Sharon, Patricia and they became a beautifully blended family.

Kathy has 20 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She told her grandchildren that she didn't want them to have kids until they got their college educations and most of them honored her wishes and are college graduates. She said she was very young when she had her children so she grew up with her grandchildren, doing all kinds of fun things with them. Her kids and grandkids all call her every week.

After living in AZ, CA, CO and UT she is delighted to be back in the beautiful Black Hills which she so loves.

Her greatest achievement is that she taught and got tenure at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry, retiring from there. She got her Masters and taught in the classroom as well as hands-on learning in the clinic setting. She worked with young people and that kept her young. She has had her up and downs as a single parent, but then God allowed her to marry a wonderful man, Jim Fox, whom she adored.

Kathy loves all Colorado sports teams, Broncos, Rockies and Avalanche. She loved fishing, skiing and ice skating, when she was younger. She skated at the Denver Ice Center where she met Dorothy Hamill many times.

Maureen Kenstler Schaffer
Whitewood, SD

Maureen married right out of high school, to an engineer in the oil business. They had two great kids Michael and Jaelyn. If there was an oil well near, her husband was there and consequently they lived in almost every state at one time or another.

She later remarried a wonderful man and they had three beautiful children, Sondra, Daniel and Kathy - named for her twin Kathleen and born on the twins birthday, March 9th.

Maureen enjoys cultural activities plus is an avid reader. She has 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and finds tremendous joy in being a grandmother. Three of her grandchildren live in Germany and speak only German.

Both girls have maintained a good outlook on life and enjoy lift to the fullest.

Kathy and Maureen have a strong faith in the Lord and honor Him for keeping them going in rough times. The twins live just three block apart now, but have always had an uncanny sense of what was going on with the other. Even though they lived in different states most of their married years, they decorated their respective homes just alike but never knew that until they visited one another.

A mutual friend describes them as being beautiful and graceful both on the outside and on the inside. Both girls have a deep faith in the Lord who sustains them each day. Both love fishing and arts and crafts.

The twins think fondly of all their classmates and hope to see everyone in September.

Jessie Richardson Russell
Sturgis, SD

Went to 1 year of college at Black Hill State in Spearfish
Married Gene (Marx) Talley in 1960
Had 2 kids Melody & Marty
Lived in several places in Colorado for 5 years. Melody had been to 9 different schools when she was a freshman.
Widowed in Feb 1974.
Moved to Sturgis in July 1974. Went to 1 year of Vo-Tech.
Married Charlie Russell Oct 1976.
He had 3 kids Randy, Delana & Chuck.
Ages of kids were 13,14,15,16 & 3 so had a few "train wrecks" but it has been a good ride. It made all of them very independent & they all do very good. 2 in SD, 2 in Wyoming & 1 in Juneau, Alaska. We have 16 grandkids & 3 great grandkids.
Retired from Pharmacy in 2001 from Ft Meade VA Hospital.
Dealt blackjack in Deadwood for about 7 years mostly part time (fun job).
We have a fishing camp at Pierre, SD & really enjoy it.
We both have most of our teeth and can't see each other's wrinkles cause we can't see as good.
Try not to take life seriously - Nobody gets out alive.

JOANN DEMPSEY WATSON
Sturgis, SD

It surely doesn't feel like 50 years have gone by since High School graduation.

The first week after I graduated from Sturgis High School, I packed my car with my belongings and drove off to California, stopping to visit my sister.   Then I drove across the southern states to Florida. My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins live there. For 2 1/2 years, my cousins and I had a lot fun; parties on the beaches, family get-togethers, seeing my grandparents a lot and just a great, great time.

After a few years of dating, I got married. We traveled some. I have four boys...Tom, Roger, Keith and Brian.

After living in Florida thirty-four and a half years, I moved back to Sturgis with my youngest son, Brian. He graduated from Sturgis High School. All of my wonderful sons went to college and I am very proud of them. I have two grandchildren, Olivia and Elias.

In my retirement years I have traveled some, have done some hiking and horse back riding in the Black Hills. Traveling with friends, I really loved Colorado, Hawaii and Alaska the most.

I see classmates from High School quite often and also students from the 1957 class. I love traveling and plan on doing more. Have been to almost all 50 states.

My favorite memories of SHS are the teachers and choir.   Lillian Anderson was a strict teacher, but great and I enjoyed her classes. I didn't get into much of the get-togethers with classmates. I worked after school and during my senior year, I worked before and after school. I bought a car and I was planning on college in Colorado, but I did that later, and not in Colorado.

I'm looking forward to our 50th Reunion and hope to see many classmates.

JoAnn Watson                                        Her sons, Tom, Roger, Keith and Brian


Tom & Susie Watson with Grands Elias & Olivia              JoAnn and son Brian

JoAnn riding, in Alaska and at Crazy Horse Monument

Bios, Page 1 includes Bill Gunlock, Jim Brown, Kay Simons Ingalls, Ann Miller Dennis, Cathy Schummer Duffy, Betty Dodson Tesch, Marlys Isaacs Coburn, Jerry Fenner, Bud Mathison, Jack Crowser	Page 2 includes Jerry Humble, Jean Jordan Millen, Gloria Raetz Roberdeau, Larry Wildberger, Mary Ann Braithwaite Crawford, Joe DesJarlais, Sharon Schmidt Ross, Sherrol Ellefson Lichte, Punky Secrest Barden	Page 3 includes Merlyn Sperle, Andra Jordan Sims, Johnnie Brink, Leland and Janet Brink, Dick Symonds, Vonda Simons Jensen, Phyllis Barker Wright, Phil Barker, Jim Goodwin, Lloyd Cash, Russell Speers, Matilda Lapp Franks	Page 4 includes Lou Ann Gesinger Clark, Bob Willert, Mary Ann Gully Ferolo, Marvin Harwood, JoAnn Baumann Barnett, Janet Pellegrin Larive, Gene Reichert, Don Nesland, Dale Thein
Page 5 includes Judi Levi Ellis, Larry Broel, Frank Huntley, Billie Rae Ritchel Morganegg, Ginny Caldwell Prascher, Frank Dobesh, Joy Olson Conway, Dan Davidson, Gayle Southworth, Donald Kost, Dwain Sanders	Page 6 includes Audrey McDaniels Estes, Ronald Merritt, Harold Waterland, Janice Bonsell Gorsuch, Kathleen Selwinder, Delno Hodgman, Frankie Ferguson Baker, Patty Corum, Bill Jones, Ralph Jones, Darlene Lamberton	Page 7 includes Kirk Cordes, Bruce Harlow, LaVon Outka Williams, Connie Williamson Weaver, Bucky O'Connor, Carol Lehman Drybread, Mickie Blair, Donna Whitford Seymour, Leslie Auer, Phyllis Duly Jachowski	Page 8 Leo Hansen, Sharon Bartlett Holdahl, Geraldine Weiss Fischer, Norma Orr Weyer, Vera Stone Leiseth, Verna Stone Wiler, Karen Westburg Rossow, Geri Burdick, Joyce Bachand Evans, Wayne Bachand, Darlene Welke, Kathleen Kenstler Fox, Maureen Kenstler Schaffer, Jessie Richardson Russell, JoAnn Dempsey Watson

Bios 1	Bios 5
Bios 2	Bios 6
Bios 3	Bios 7
Bios 4	Bios 8
Bear Butte Breezes
Bear Butte Breezes	1958 Deceased
Class of 1958
Class of 1958	30th reunion
1958 Basketball
1958 Basketball	1950's Pics
Reunion Mystery
Reunion Mystery	57-58 Clippings
Will and Prophecy
Will and Prophecy	Mato Paha
School Cheers	letters_from_58ers
1936 YrBk-handdrawn	58 Early School Pictures

1. HOME (The early years)	2. Pueblo, Gr Junction	3. Fairbanks 1		4. Fairbanks 2
5. Arizona	6. Rural San Diego	7. Mixed Pictures		8. Family Album
9. Extended Family	10. Dupree Ranch	Denver		Articles 1 2 3
Calendars 56-61	La Veta	AAU Basketball		Lefse
Sturgis Menu		Fowler Menu
Pueblo College: Yearbook 58-59 59-60 Arrow 58/59 Don's College/Jobs Ann's College/Jobs Army & Yrbk		Ann's Pottery/Art	Perfect Marriage (or not)	Baseball
		Classmates	Uptown Theater	Silly Stories
Ancestors MAIN MENU Cully, Eunice, Fred, Casey, Hazel, Donald, Verna, Buck, Inez, NY/SD Millers, Joens Research on Utters		Dennis/Wright Slideshow Scotty Wright Stewart Family Pics Ferguson 1 Ferguson History 1935 Attica KS Book
USS Dennis USS Fogg USS St. Lo Delbert Miller James Turner		POW WWII "It All Began" "....And an Electric Chair"
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