Class Notes
Class Notes are compiled by Betsy Holmquist ’67, M.A. ’83. Submit news to the UM Alumni Association, Brantly Hall, Missoula, MT 59812. You may fax your news to (406) 243-4467 or e-mail it to alumnote@mso.umt.edu. Material in this issue reached our office by September 15, 2003. Please contact UMAA with all name and address updates at the above address or phone 1-877-UM-ALUMS.
’30s
Emmeline McKittrick Lee ’35 and her husband, Wade Lee, of Missoula celebrated their 65th anniversary at a July family reunion at Flathead Lake. The couple met while working for Montana Power Company.
’40s
Albert C. Angstman ’41, LL.B. ’46 writes from Kingwood, Texas, “I note in the Fall Montanan, that many more alumni names from the ’30s and ’40s appear in the In Memoriam section than in Class Notes. I got to thinking I would rather my name appear in the latter column than in the former. This is to let you know that I am still alive and kicking. I’ve been retired now for 26 years, after 27 years in the legal department of Shell Oil Company. The retirement years have been spent enjoying life, with lots of travel and golf. As proof that I still get around pretty well, I recently ‘shot my age’—an 82, which most golfers know is an admirable feat for an amateur.” Al’s letter also acknowledges Dean Charles W. Leaphart and the other UM School of Law professors who, he writes, “went out of their way adjusting schedules to meet the numerous needs of veterans returning to law school during the years following World War II.”
Lucile Lofland Strausser ’49 enjoys having her daughter, Bonnie Boyd Burns ’54, of Goldsboro, N.C., read her the Montanan. “Mother is 96 years old,” Bonnie writes, “and rides her exercise bike five miles a day. She has logged a total of 18,000 miles on it now.” Bonnie continues, “Mom worked for many Air Force generals and took depositions from returning POWs after the Vietnam War. She worked until she was 70. Then she took up oil painting and did over 100 beauties.” Bonnie, a retired elementary school teacher, did commercial modeling in San Francisco and appeared in the 1937 movies “52nd Street” and “Doctor’s Diary.” She admits that her “real claim to fame was being considered for the part of Bonnie Blue Butler in ‘Gone with the Wind.’ I was too old by the time it was cast,” she explains, “but such was life in Tinsel Town!”
Valerie Jean Yule Walther ’49, Missoula, can stir her tea or coffee with a sterling silver teaspoon featuring UM’s Main Hall topped by an engraved naked woman. Among her spoon collection are two other UM spoons, one engraved with “Lux et Veritas,” the other with “Bess” and “1914.” “I expect it’s for Bess Reed,” Valerie explains. Her collection includes 32 spoons from Montana alone—Valerie’s favorite, a Butte teaspoon featuring Buckskin Charlie, the scout who took Teddy Roosevelt up the Gallatin River and into Yellowstone Park. Valerie’s father, James B. Yule ’08 sister, Jamie B. Yule ’56 and Val’s Missoula-based sons, Peter R. Walther ’92 and Jonathan Y. Walther ’82 all graduated from UM. Jamie, a retired professor from Mercyhurst College, lives in Erie, Penn. Peter manages the record department at Rockin’ Rudy’s, and Jonathan is a troubleshooter for the Deep Space Network, part of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The boys’ father, Peter E. Walther, ’80 is a retired math and computer science instructor at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo.
’50s
Jack L. Sutton ’52 was honored at this summer’s Old Timers’ Reunion and Summer Festival in Fairview. A high school English teacher in Fairview for 30 years and a ticket-taker at all school events for the past 40 years, Jack’s looking forward to next fall when he can at last tell the first students he had in high school 41 years ago that they’re old enough to get into events free. “Those once 17-year olds will be 60 then,” he laughs, “and I’m looking forward to telling them they don’t have to pay any more because now they are senior citizens!” Jack substitutes, serves as a library aide, junior class sponsor, and directs an annual play for the high school. He walks 100 blocks each day delivering the Billings Gazette and admits he didn’t even buy a festival button that featured his picture. “I just don’t understand why Fairview wanted to honor me,” he concludes.
Lawrence K. Pettit ’59 retired in August after 11 years as president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Larry served as Montana’s first commissioner of higher education and will remain in Western Pennsylvania where he continues as chairman of the board of the National Environmental Education and Training Center Inc.
’60s
Larry L. Christopherson ’64, Columbus, Ohio, retired as a loan officer for Huntington Mortgage Company in February 2002. He recently took over the financial literacy and homeownership education program for the Columbus Office of Neighborhood Housing. Larry also has developed a financial and credit card management education and counseling program for students at Ohio State University. Ginny Johnson Christopherson ’64 has her own Suzuki-based violin music school. Larry and Ginny have two grown daughters and invite friends traveling by to “stop in for a visit!”
Daniel R. Blake ’65 has been married to Bonnie Ericson for five years and enjoys their blended family of a son, a daughter and two step-daughters. An economics professor at California State University, Northridge, Dan was voted the Outstanding Business Graduate Teacher last year. He directs the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center at CSUN and recently produced the first economic forecast for the San Fernando Valley.
Richard W. Barr ’66 received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Honor from the Ennis Lions Club at its annual spring banquet. This award marks the highest form of recognition conferred by the Lions Club International Foundation and recognizes Dick’s dedication to making the world a better place through humanitarian service. Dick formerly owned and operated the SilverTip Lodge in Ennis and was a member of the UM Alumni Association Board of Directors.
William F. Wright, M.S. ’66, retired from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in December 2002 after nearly 38 years as a state employee. Bill writes from Kalispell, “My wife, Linda, and I plan on traveling more to visit our children and spend time spoiling our granddaughter, Paige.”
Roger A. Barber ’67, J.D. ’71, M.B.A. ’83, is the newly-appointed interim deputy commissioner of academic and student affairs in the Office of the Commissioner of High Education in Helena. An administrator and member of the faculty at MSU-Northern for 23 years, Roger served as provost of the college since 1999.
Peter H. Ormson ’68 retired in December 2002 after 33 years with ConocoPhillips. Peter spent his entire career in marketing, beginning as a vendor contract negotiator on the Apollo Project following graduation from UM. He and his wife, Carol Olson Ormson, ’70 live in Albuquerque, N.M.
’70s
Carl G. Darchuk ’70 is the founding director of the Fort Peck Theater, Helena’s Grandstreet Theater and Scobey’s summer theater, now known as the Dirty Shame Saloon. Carl also founded three theaters in Washington—the Mercer Island Children’s Theater, the Renton Civic Theater and Issaquah’s Village Theater. Now living in Los Angeles, he is working on a motion picture adaptation of his stage play, “Tringle.”
Robert L. Lohrmeyer ’72 is dean of Lewis-Clark State College’s School of Technology in Lewiston, Idaho. Robert has been serving as interim dean since July 2002.
Stephen E. Medvec ’72, M.A. ’77, resigned in August 2002, after nearly 21 years with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. He is an assistant professor of political science at Holy Family University in Philadelphia.
Gordon Thomas Zimmerman ’72, Albuquerque, N.M., is director of fire and aviation management for the Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service.
Michael J. Nitschke ’74, Amarillo, Texas, is senior systems analyst at Anderson Merchandisers—the music, video and book distributor for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. A member of the development team for Wal-Mart’s music, video and book order fulfillment Web site, Michael was recently admitted to the Texas State Board and State Society of C.P.A.s.
Charles E. Erdmann, J.D. ’75, serves as a judge on the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. One of the nation’s foremost experts on judicial reform in countries emerging from war, Charles traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, with the U.S. Institute of Peace in June to help develop a model legal code for post-war countries. Previously he spent more than four years as the judicial reform coordinator in the Office of the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and became the only American judge to hold an international judicial position in Bosnia. A retired colonel in the Air National Guard, Charles lives in Clancy.
Richard R. Tobin Jr. ’75, executive chef at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., is especially proud of his brother, James R. Tobin ’80, M.Ed. ’82, the secretary-general of the Micronesian Olympic Team. Rich writes, “Jim walked into the 2000 Sydney Olympics with his team of seven (count ‘em!) athletes. He had served in the Peace Corps in Pohnpei, Micronesia, since his UM graduation, and was hired [as a coach] by the island group. Jim is looking ahead to the Summer Games in Athens in 2004.”
Maggie Bennington-Davis ’78, Tualatin, Ore., was named “Psychiatrist of the Year” by the National Alliance for the Mentaly Ill. Maggie is the medical director of Salem Hospital’s Psychiatric Medicine Department where she has served since 1994.
Tom C. Alexander ’79, manager of human resources for NorthWestern Energy Company in Butte, earned his certification as a professional in human resources from the Human Resource Certification Institute.
Joseph W. Bowen ’79 is president and chief operating officer of Mutual Materials in Bellevue, Wash. Joe has been with the company since 1995 and recently served as its executive vice president.
W. Daniel Edge ’79, M.S. ’82, Ph.D. ’85, is a wildlife ecologist and head of Oregon State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. He was one of eight educators to receive the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Agriculture Sciences Teaching Award at the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges annual meeting last November. The recipient of a $2,000 stipend, Dan was noted for his innovations and publications on the development and promotion of distance education courses. Dan turned 50 in September and writes that he and his wife, Sally Olson Edge ’84, of Corvallis, Ore., planned a party “like those we were known for in Missoula.”
Luana K. Ross ’79 is a sociologist and associate professor in the Department of Women’s Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle. Author of “Inventing the Savage: The Social Construction of Native American Criminality” and co-author of “Violence and Native Women,” Luana spoke to UM law students this past spring. She gave credit for her motivation to her mother, Opal Swaney Cajune, ’79 of Ronan, who was in the audience. Luana’s sister, Julie Cajune, ’74 was one of 100 recipients of this year’s Milken Educator Award. Julie is the Indian education coordinator for the Ronan-Pablo Schools and also credits Opal, “the family’s number one trail blazer,” for her success. Opal accompanied Julie to Santa Monica, Calif., where she received the $25,000 award.
’80s
Corinne S. Craighead ’80 teaches library science at Whittier Elementary School in Pasco, Wash. Her mother, Arlyne Craighead of Missoula, reports that “Corinne and her friend, Brett, built a Harley in their living room and rode 2,026 miles round trip to Sturgis, S.D., as well as participated in the Harley– Davidson 100th Anniversary Ride Home.” Corinne was featured on the Harley-Davidson Web site and in the Great Falls Tribune. “It was a dream come true for them,” Arlyne adds.
Paul R. Fossum ’80 was promoted to associate professor of education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Paul joined the UM-Dearborn faculty in 1997 and is co-author of the textbook “Comparative Education: Exploring Issues in International Perspective.”
Larry E. Wilkerson ’80, M.Ed. ’93, is principal for two elementary schools in Miles City. His wife, Gail Shaw Wilkerson, ’80 is the library manager for the V.A. Montana Healthcare System.
Randy L. Kuiper ’81, Pharm.D. ’00, a clinical pharmacy coordinator at Benefis Healthcare in Great Falls, was named Pharmacist of the Year by the Montana Pharmacy Association. Randy also was elected president of the Montana Pharmacy Association for 2003-2004.
Dixie Goeres McLaughlin ’85 is project manager for the National Rural Bioethics Project-Libby at UM. She previously worked at the Institute of Medicine and Humanities at Missoula’s St. Patrick Hospital.
Jeffrey A. Weldon ’86, M.P.A. ’95, J.D. ’97, is legal counsel and executive director of human resources with the Billings Public Schools. Previously Jeff served as chief legal counsel for the superintendent of public instruction in Helena.
Bonita K. Peterson, M.B.A. ’87, received the Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Jack J. Kempner Outstanding Educator Award in July. An associate professor in accounting at the College of Business at Montana State University, Bonita recently was appointed the Scott and Barbara Heck Faculty Scholar for her outstanding teaching at MSU’s College of Business.
Andrew L. Tuller ’87 owns and operates Outa Ware, an outdoor clothing manufacturing business in Belgrade. Andy advertises only by word-of-mouth, is the sole employee and gives a transferable, lifetime guarantee on every item of clothing he makes and sells. “Field testing my apparel is really a full-time job,” Andy admits, and he enjoys rafting, kayaking, windsurfing and mountain biking with his sport pooch, Ash, who often wears his own designer dog Outa Ware.
Eric Thorsen ’89 won the C.M. Russell Art Show and Auction People’s Choice Award for Best Sculpture for the fourth year in a row. Limited edition bronzes of his award-winning “Sleepy Bear” sculpture are available at the Eric Thorsen Fine Art Gallery in Bigfork.
’90s
Bradley A. Robinson ’92 is executive director of the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula. He and his wife, Susan Mandeville Robinson ’95 welcomed their second child, Erin Leigh Robinson, on March 7, 2003. Susan teaches at Sylvan Learning Center and operates a home-based business, Mountain View Ventures. Brad is a co-founder of Big Sky Brewing Company and has served four years as vice president of the International Film Festival held annually in Missoula.
Barrett L. Kaiser ’99 is communications director for U.S. Senator Max Baucus out of the Billings office. A former president of ASUM, Barrett was Baucus’ deputy press secretary in Washington, D.C., from 1999 to 2001.
’00s
Lynn Hendrickson ’00 has begun a year’s fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Her research will focus on the physiological effects of exercise in disease prevention, specifically with diabetes and Native Americans. Lynn recently directed a National Institutes of Health grant for UM that involved motivational interviewing of Native Americans at high risk for diabetes.
Marcus E. Kosena ’00, M.B.A. ’02, and Denise Rattray Kosena ’02 were married at UM’s Main Hall on July 26, 2003, by Jean A. Turnage, J.D. ’51, Hon. Ph.D. ’95. The Kosenas live in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Kathleen A. Tonkovich, M.B.A. ’00, is an assistant vice president at First Security Bank in Bozeman. Kathleen recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado conducted on the UC-Boulder campus.
Shannon G. O’Hare ’01 is a real estate lender in the Bozeman branch of Rocky Mountain Banks.
Patrick D. Connole ’03 is a data support specialist with Wayport Corporation in Los Angeles.
Ramses Ruziev Samatovich, M.P.A. ’03, is a program assistant at American Councils for International Education in Washington, D.C. He is helping administer the Open Russia Ambassadors Program, an exchange program for 104 students from the Russian Federation who live with host families and attend high school in the United States for one academic year.
New Life Members
The following individuals have made a commitment to the future of the UM Alumni Association by becoming life members. You can join them by calling 877-UM-ALUMS. Annual memberships and payment plans are also available. The Alumni Association thanks them for their support..
Isaac Bertschi, Ph.D. ’02, Bothell, Wash.
Marcia Meagher Bragg ’63, M.Ed. ’74, W. Linn, Ore.
Candace Mariani Brett ’75, Park City, Utah
Walter Brett ’76, Park City, Utah
Glenda M. Carr ’99, Pharm.D. ’00, Boise, Idaho
Jeff Carr ’98, M.S. ’00, Boise, Idaho
Sandra Leech Chabot, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Jane M. Green ’82, Albany, Calif.
Michael Gustafson ’97, Spokane, Wash.
Gary Holt ’88, Meridian, Idaho
Mollie Hogan Holt ’89, Meridian, Idaho
Dale Huhtanen ’67, M.Ed. ’73, Hamilton
Dianne Popham Huhtanen ’68, Hamilton
Kaaren Hillstrand Jensen ’64, Kalispell
Wayne Jensen ’61, Kalispell
Glen Johnson, M.Ed. ’91, Ed.D. ’02, Butte
Viola Farias Jones ’52, Walla Walla, Wash.
Bobbi Aldrich Kearney ’96, North Hills, Calif.
Denise Rattray Kosena ’02, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Marcus Kosena ’00, M.B.A. ’02, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Amanda L. Reopelle, M.B.A. ’00, Belgrade
Kevin Mayer ’82, Sidney
Arlo Skari ’58, Chester
Darlene Johnson Skari, M.Ed. ’66, Chester
Florine K. Smith ’64, Missoula
Erin H. Suhr ’99, Sacramento, Calif.
Steven Volk ’82, Albuquerque, N.M.
Charles W. Willey, J.D. ’59, Missoula
In Memoriam
The Alumni Association requires a newspaper obituary or a letter of notification from the immediate family to list a name in this section. We extend sympathy to the families of the following alumni, faculty and friends.
Frances Nash Davis ’29, Minnetonka, Minn.
Esther Edwards Ankeny ’30, Oak Harbor, Wash.
Idella Alta Kennedy ’32, Eureka, Calif.
Ruth Polleys Sale ’35, Polson
Harold C. Kohlhase ’36, Stevensville
Thomas Y. Savage ’36, Virginia Beach, Va.
Norman E. Hanson ’37, J.D. ’40, Billings
Lucile McDonald Logan ’37, White Sulphur Springs
George J. Vucanovich ’37, Helena
Alexander Blewett, J.D. ’38, Great Falls
Theodore J. Walker ’38, Seattle
Stanley H. Lewis ’39, Muscatine, Iowa
Ruth Wigfield Phillip ’39, Missoula
Jane Berland Hall ’40, Hamilton
Harold Earnest Koontz ’40, Billings
Marjorie McNamer Sands ’40, Pueblo, Colo.
Stanley Patrick Klesney ’41, Midland, Mich.
George K. Nicholson ’41, Pensacola, Fla.
Helen Coughlin Perko ’41, Seattle
John C. Stephenson ’41, Flora Vista, N.M.
Katherine Sire Bentley ’42, Los Angeles
Rosemary Jarussi Milmont ’42, Cheyenne, Wyo.
John R. “Jack” Burgess ’44, Helena
Glen Herschel LaPine ’44, Salt Lake City
Eleanor Larson Potter ’44, Missoula
Carroll Roberts Power ’44, Globe, Ariz.
Ann Woodward Wood ’44, Fresno, Calif.
Maurice “Bud” Maffei ’47, J.D. ’50, Butte
Sarah Ann McNelis, M.A. ’47, Butte
Robert B. Tweto ’47, Richland, Wash.
Fredrick W. Cantamessa ’48, Wallace, Idaho
Betty Durham Gregory ’48, Goodyear, Ariz.
H.L. “Mac” McChesney, J.D. ’48, Missoula
Robert L. Leinart ’49, Fort Benton
Beverly Brink Badhorse ’50, Fairbanks, Alaska
John A. “Jack” Morrison ’50, M.Ed. ’68, Billings
Donald K. Peterson ’50, Bigfork
Gordon A. Samuelson ’50, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Angier J. Shelden ’50, Lander, Wyo.
Joseph E. Buley, J.D. ’51, Lake Oswego, Ore.
Ralph Booney Pirtle ’51, Cordova, Alaska
Laurel Koefod Holloway ’52, Gilbert, Ariz.
Donald C. McDermed ’52, Carmel, Calif.
Patricia Ferguson Biggerstaff ’53, Missoula
Bruce G. Milne ’53, M.Ed. ’57, Ed.D. ’69, Vermillion, S.D.
Louis F. Borchers ’54, Polson
John P. McDonnell ’54, Redmond, Wash.
Kennette Kenison Smith ’54, Dillon
James T. Petersen, M.Ed. ’55, Polson
James E. “Gitch” Combo ’56, Butte
Stuart P. Hughes ’56, Missoula
Floyd J. McDowell, M.Ed. ’56, Spokane
James Edward Cutts ’57, Truckee, Calif.
In Memoriam (cont.)
Charles Edward Palmer ’57, Littleton, Colo.
Carole Domke Allen ’59, Englewood, Colo.
Ronald Foss Geraty ’59, El Cajon, Calif.
Vanetta Lewis, M.Ed. ’59, Bellevue, Wash.
Gilbert A. Millikan ’59, Missoula
James A. Berry ’60, Miles City
Gerald L. Anderson ’61, Seaside, Calif.
Florence Dyer Long ’63, San Clemente, Calif.
Ruth Johnstone Duppong ’65, Missoula
James P. Welch ’65, Hon.Ph.D. ’97, Missoula
David G. Armstrong, M.A. ’67, Greensboro, N.C.
Lea McGuinness Carver ’67, Anaconda
Alice Peterson Leland ’67, Great Falls
Hazel M. Neff ’67, Phoenix
Ben Alfred Bradbury, M.Ed. ’68, Rudyard
Muriel McNeil Sperry ’68, Kalispell
Harold W. Ramsey ’69, Big Arm
Brian T. Balock ’74, Missoula
Kenneth Howard Grenfell ’74, J.D. ’83, Missoula
Michael C. Laisnez ’74, Franklin, Tenn.
Ronald H. Newman ’75, Frenchtown
Lynn Decker Stevens ’76, San Francisco
Nancy Lee Emerson ’77, Fullerton, Calif.
David W. Goens, M.S. ’79, Missoula
Daniel P. Hillen, M.F.A. ’79, Helena
Michael LaVerne Thraen ’85, Florence
Douglas J. DiRe ’87, J.D. ’93, Anaconda
David Leslie Pengelly, J.D. ’87, Missoula
Linda Gill Nolvanko ’88, Buhl, Idaho
Robert Edward Eagle ’89, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Gary Bruce Orr ’89, St. Ignatius
Patricia McGinnis Roemer ’89, Missoula
Janet White Sansoucie ’93, Helena
Laura Susan Kuzel, M.S. ’94, Helena
Matthew Paul Tunno, M.A. ’98, Missoula
Gerald Scott Stone ’99, Missoula
William Grant Johnson ’00, Missoula
Patrick Andrews Guffey ’05, Missoula
Teresa Joan Brenner, Missoula
Lucille Clark, Big Timber
Helen Louise Dwyer, Missoula
Carl W. Kreitzberg, Media, Penn.
Chester M. “Chet” Murphy, Missoula
Martha Jean Nolan, Hamilton
Susan York Sheldon, Missoula
Eunice Julie Shoemaker, Missoula
Vernon O. Sletten, Missoula
Births
Abigail Marie Wells to Matthew E. Wells ’96 and Sarah Pippin Wells ’96, May 30, 2003, West Des Moines, Iowa
Joshua Adams to Brian L. Adams ’99 and Jaime L. Adams ’99, June 9, 2003, Helotes, Texas
Avery Stone Ribich to Jennifer M. Vezina ’00 and Mark Ribich, June 21, 2003, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Blake Zachary Buckner to Teresa McElwain Buckner ’93 and Garland Buckner, July 5, 2003, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Kellen David Bradt to David Dean Bradt ’90 and Jolene Thomas Bradt ’90, July 8, 2003, Florence
Hayes Sundermann Kohler to Elizabeth Anne Sundermann ’94, ’97 and Glenn Kohler ’97, July 10, 2003, Davis, Calif.
Michael David Schwarz to Connie Kruger Schwarz ’90 and Tim Schwarz, July 17, 2003, Seattle
Lauren Nicole Dick to Kelsey Boyle Dick ’98 and Ryan J. Dick ’98, August 8, 2003, Missoula
Abigail Ann Disburg to Tyler Disburg ’03 and Stephanie Ann Disburg ’05, August 24, 2003, Missoula
Matthew Edward Durkin to Lisette F. Carter ’90 and Tim Durkin, September 9, 2003, Spokane
