Biographies & Updates Cont'd

Randolph, Denise (DECEASED) ...Deceased... Obituary

Redlin, Terry and Helene Langenfield ...(Jan 31, 03) Received a nice note from Helene…she reports that they do not have any of the new fangle-dangle stuff; so no Internet, E-mail, etc...We know what they do to keep busy…nuf said… 20 years ago

Riley, Ambrose

Ruhr, Chuck ...did receive messages regarding current events, but waiting for updated bio... 20 years ago

Schaack, Dick and June ...Live in South Shore, SD. Attended SDSU for one year, then into the Army for two years…stationed in Arizona and Alaska. Returned to SDSU but was recalled into the military during the Berlin Crisis.
Spent a year in Ft. Lewis, WA…then back to school, graduated, got a job with the US Fish and Wildlife…Division of fish hatcheries. He was stationed around the states. First in Lake Mills National Fish hatchery in Wisconsin, then on to Raco, MI; Spearfish, SD; Marion, AL; Manchester, IA; Cedar Bluff, KS; Leadville, CO and Genoa, WI.

Moved to South Shore SD, bought a lake cabin, built on and live there year round. Dick and June enjoy golfing, fishing, bowling, and travel. They plan to head for Texas to spend a couple of months out of the cold…

Sexton, Connie Amy ...20 years ago

Shriver, Larry and Mary ...Larry winters in Sun City Arizona (October to June) and summers in Watertown. Plays softball three times a week and golfs every day…what a life…Larry retired “twice” …once from 21 years in the Air Force and then 20 years as District Manager for Farmers Insurance Group. Larry married Mary Sheehan (class of '56). They have six married children, four boys and two girls. Thirteen…count ‘em 13 grandchildren…it keeps us young. Final comment…”my door is always open to company, the coffee is on and beer in the fridge and lots of fruit on the trees”. Sounds like an open invitation…

Sleiter, Darlene Longstreet ...(May, 04)..After graduation from high school I worked 13 years as a bookkeeper. I married Bob Longstreet in 1965. We owned Star Laundry and Cleaners in Watertown for ten years. We have a son and daughter that reside here in Albuquerque, NM. We moved to Albuquerque in 1978. I went into banking, which lasted for 15 years.

In 1993 I had a liver transplant. (I had some sort of destructive gene) The process only slowed me down for a few months.

My husband passed away in 1997. I retired from Banking but got bored and returned to work part-time. I am currently working in sales.

Smith, Marion Blais ...I have lived at the same address in Rapid City for 38 years. I don’t have e-mail. I am looking forward to receiving the Project “55” information. ...20 years ago

Sorsen, Jens (Deceased October 22, 2009) ...I retired from Affiliated Foods last year, but I am back working 2 days a week after 6 months off. I kind of enjoy working 2 days because I get to see some of the people that I worked with for 26 years and I still have lots of free time.  I worked for National Tea Grocery company while I was in high school and I never thought much about the grocery business as a career. I was just trying to make a few bucks to have some spending money. After I got out of high school I joined the Air Force and spent 3 years in Germany. I learned a valuable lesson in the Air Force. When I was going to school I remember getting a "D" in algebra because it did not make any common sense to me. When I joined the Air Force they sent me to electronics school and I soon found out that algebra was important. I took a college correspondence course in algebra and I got an "A". That lesson taught me to make sure that my people understood their job when I was a super market manager and a store supervisor. If people understand their job they will do good at it.
 
I got out of the Air Force in December 1959 and I had a job lined up with Bell Telephone Company. They wanted me to start in Mobridge because a snow and ice storm had broken down a lot of lines. Before I started with Bell, the manager of the National Food Store in Watertown called and offered me a job as produce manager. It didn't take me long to decide if I wanted to work out in the cold or inside a nice warm store. That was the start of my full time career in the grocery business. I was transferred to Madison, SD as assistant manager a year later and that is where I met my wife. She worked in the bank and I took the store's deposits to the bank every day. We got married in January 1961 and she has been taking my money ever since. We have three sons, three Daughters in Law and eight Grandchildren. I managed Supermarkets in Yankton, SD, Norfolk, NE and Sioux City, IA before I moved back to Norfolk in 1977. I worked for Affiliated Foods as a Retail Supervisor for twenty five years before I retired last year. I called on stores in the Siouxland area so I often got back to South Dakota 

I get to Watertown quite often because my Mother lives in Jenkins Care Center and I have two Brothers and a Sister living in Watertown. I was pleased to see that the Redlin Center has our class picture included in the displays. I can proudly tell people my picture hangs in the Terry Redlin Art Center.

Spooner, Sylvia Struck ...20 years ago

Steger, Susan Reed
...Received a this update (25-Oct-04)

Hello Kermit. I am so glad Jo Ann found me and thank you for sending the e-mails. You are all beautiful people and I look forward to having our 50th WHS reunion with you.

I have lived in Houston for over 27 years and my 3 daughters, Julie, Jan and Jill have blessed me with 3 wonderful son’s in law and 6 grandchildren, 5 boys and 1 beautiful granddaughter. I am very proud of them. Do I sound like a grandmother?

Career wise, I have worked for United Healthcare in medical sales but decided to retire on June 30th of this year, Didn’t last but 6 days when I started working with an agent. Oh well, some day! Jan, Jill and I have started a new business venture called It’s Armoire “antiques and fine furniture” which we are launching on 11/06/04. We have our fingers crossed. Oh well, if we don’t sell much, our homes will be well decorated.

My companion, Petunia, the dachshund and I love company and our home is always open to friends. Great fishing in Rockport and cruises leave every week from Galveston. When it gets chilly, come on down. You all are welcome. Susan

note...we've added Susan's address, phone & e-mail to our classmate directory page...

Steinkogler, Larry (DECEASED) ...Deceased... Obituary

Stofft, Bill ...Kermit, thanks for the note and the thoughts and prayers for the service men and women from all the Services of the Active and Reserve Components who are serving so proudly and so well in these battles, and for all those who support so well from the States and elsewhere. It is truly a National undertaking and seen as so by the men and women in Iraq--steady and strong of heart and spirit they are in every way. The wonderful thing about serving in the Armed Forces of a democracy is that in the end it is really all about self-government and individual liberty and freedom and not about territory or possessions. (..Have heard from several classmates in similar vein since this began, not surprising..just good to see the thoughts..) Pat and I are now in Germany for the next few months---brought her with me on this 'tour'.  Arizona was wonderful and a good break from the Hills, but knew I was going to be here awhile, so she is tagging along.  

As you know, I am still working with the US Army part time in Europe at the Army Headquarters in Heidelberg.  Have been doing so since I retired from the Army in 1994---Pat says I failed retirement, just like I almost failed trig.  But we are nearing the end of this gig as I have pledged to ease back once we get our European based troops back from the Gulf.
As you know from the papers, much of the European based Army is now in the Gulf.  Being 'an ocean closer' was helpful for the country to deploy forces to the mid-East  the last time around and so too with this fight.  More soldiers from here joined the fray  with the 173rd Airborne Brigade jumping into Bashur last week.  Airborne troopers know no fear and they were terrific--one of the biggest and best jumps since WWII--spot on and DZ secure well before first light.  Great Army-Air Force teamwork as we have known it for years.  All these youngsters are the best we have and the most precious resource of the country. And their families are a great strength to them here.

Seeing all the notes on where our classmates have been over the years, I thought I would offer a quick summary.

Went to USD with several of our friends and neighbors and majored in History and education and even spent some great days on the track team with Kermit.  I took a commission in Armor through the ROTC program and headed to Germany where Pat Gates and I were married in October l960.  She is from Custer and was once a classmate of Mike McAtee's there---big crush on him which she may not be over.  We met at Vermillion.  Our first tour in Europe was four years long and the only long tour I had in Europe until we retired.  Several short shots for training and maneuvers, but no more long tours.  We were going to be in the Army three years, then I was going to Oklahoma on a history scholarship on the way to teaching and coaching.  Funny thing happened on the way to Oklahoma...and 35 years later.

We have three children.  Elizabeth lives in Centerville, Iowa, has 5 children and she and her husband Kevin both served in the Army for a number of years--she a physical therapist, he a Black hawk pilot.  He now runs a Rubbermaid factory there.  Both are USD grads. Daughter Pamela is married with two boys and lives in Scottsdale, AZ.  She is a CPA and husband Jim is COO of a medical company.  Pam went to college in Texas--no snow for her. Son Bruce is in Austin, Texas where he works for Apple.  Started school at USD and finished in Washington, DC.  Not yet married, but working on it.

Pat and I spent 35 years in the Army serving in Armor and Infantry assignments and I spent over 12 years teaching strategy, public policy and military history at West Point, the US Army Staff College at Leavenworth, Kansas, and later as College President at the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

We had tours at Ft. Benning (airborne assignment), Fort Knox, Fort Hood (armor assignments), Fort Holabird, Md for intelligence school, New York University where I went to graduate school in history, and a short stint at Harvard in executive development which none of my high school or college teachers, nor any of my friends would believe possible, much less likely.  I spent two long tours in Vietnam working both times with the Vietnamese Army in Infantry units in the Delta and the North and had some time on the MACV staff in Saigon.  Had some short training stints in Korea, Panama and other garden spots along the way.

I commanded a battalion at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and then joined the Army Staff in Washington for a study of education and training.  After that, back to teaching at the Staff College before going again to the Army Staff as the Army's Chief of Military History.  Great opportunity to help with the writing of the history of the Army and working with over 20 countries on the histories of their Armies as well.  Got to take in the first US delegations to Russia after the Crowe-Ackromeiff agreements in 1987 and to a couple of other Warsaw pact countries as well.  Have been back several times working with the Russian General Staff and service schools.

Was promoted to Major General and served a tour as the Secretary of the General Staff on the Army Staff and then posted for my last tour as the College President at the Army War College in Carlisle.

So Pat and I had a wonderful opportunity to travel around the world, share some wonderful experiences with our children as we moved them 26 times in 35 years and serve with countless great Americans in peace and war for a generation.  We had always planned to come back to South Dakota and Pat's home in the Hills provided our anchor.  As long as the kids can remember, South Dakota was home.  Now we are back.  We both hunt, fish, play some very bad golf and have a dozen or more projects yet to launch when we finish this tour at the end of the year.
 
Brother Bob (57) lost his wife to Cancer over a year ago and lives in Tucson where he regularly hosts classmates from Watertown and Mines and made the high school reunion last year.  Sister Joan (59) is in Pagosa Springs, Colo and likewise has stayed tethered to her friends in SD.

You may not believe this, but we are the only Stofft's in the Custer phone book and one of two in the Phoenix phone book, so no excuse not to call and come by winter or summer...Cheers, Bill

Strain, David ...David and wife are back at home in Santa Barbara after living in Colorado for two years and spending three years traveling the US in an RV. Dave worked on their house for a time and decided to return to work…Works at the YMCA as Director of Maintenance and Operations….keeps the building, pool, spa, and sauna and all the related equipment working. It is more than he wanted but is keeping him out of some sort of trouble. The Y is doing a major renovation project and he feels committed to that project . Plays some tennis and does some traveling. …his wife says…”but not enough”.

Strohfus, Shirley Kell

Strom, Janet Little
...I worked the summer, following high school graduation, with an office job. That fall I entered an airline-secretarial school in Minneapolis.I worked for Pierre Public School system. I was a secretary-teacher aide for nine years. Worked as a sales clerk, as a second part-time job, in that same time frame. Later became a school bus driver and worked as a floral designer.

I am married to Larry Little. He is a 1953 Watertown High School graduate. We lived in Brookings, SD, California, Watertown, SD, Pierre, SD, Mitchell, SD, Belle Fourche, SD, and back to Watertown, SD in 1995.

We raised our family in Pierre, S.D. We have a daughter, Linda, graduate of S.D. School of Mines. Chemical Engineer degree. She works for DOW Chemical in Texas. We have a son, Mark, graduate of S.D. School of Mines. Geological Engineer degree. South Dakota State University graduate, Education degree. Luther-Northwestern Seminary, Masters of Divinity degree. He is a pastor for eleven years in Minnesota. We have three grandsons; Cody-11 yr., in Texas; Kyle-4yr., Nicholas, 2 yrs., in Minnesota.

We like to travel. We've visited nearly all 50 States, that includes Hawaii. Larry traveled to Egypt, with a tour. He brought interesting stories back home. Janet has an avid interest in gardening. The yard had been chosen, "Yard of the Month". Reading is a favorite hobby that we both enjoy. Larry volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. He is active with the Thrivent organization. Larry tutors at Watertown elementary school system.

Our grandchildren do make life interesting, indeed.

Sturm, Arlene Buetow

Sturm, James ...Jim and Connie are still on the farm north of Watertown. The farm is a mile north and ½ mile west on Highway 81. Jim sold his cattle this year (2003) and plans to concentrate on grain farming in the future. One of the major developments is the growth of Watertown. A housing development is now within a half mile of the farm and a truck route is scheduled to open on their little country road in a couple of years.

Jim and Connie have one daughter, Amy. Amy and her husband are expecting their second child soon. Their grandson, Aaron, is growing up to be a great farmer's helper. He enjoys spending time on the farm.

Jan - 2004...Received this update from Jim...

I entered the South Dakota National Guard while still a senior and was in the Infantry for 3 years and the Engineers for 5 years, serving as a mechanic. I continued working on the family farm just north of Watertown with my father and older brother, Harold. During the winter months I would either work in Minneapolis or attend night classes for carpentry, diesel mechanics, or welding. I married Connie Mitchell in 1973. Soon after we were married I designed and built a home for us across the road from the farm. The spiral staircase and stone fireplace were interesting challenges. Connie is a floral designer and raises orchids and other houseplants so in 1998 I added on a large four seasons garden room to accommodate her "jungle".

Our only child, Amy, was born in 1975. She's married to Brian Sowers and they have two little boys. Aaron is 5 years old and loves to tag along and help with farm chores. Adam is only 7 weeks old but hopefully he'll be a "grandpa's helper" someday, too. I enjoy traveling and have been from Washington, DC to Seattle but especially enjoy the mountains and Wyoming. Harold and I have sold the cattle and will just grain farm so we may have more time to travel if I can get Connie out of the house and away from our little dog, Heidi. I also enjoy working on old cars and am restoring a 1972 Cutlass 442 that we purchased new and drove for many years. If you're ever in the Watertown area, stop in for coffee...Jim

Swenson, Caroll Cordts ...It seems impossible that 50 years have gone by! Time flies when you’re having fun!

After graduation from WHS in 1955, I attended NSU to acquire a 2 year teaching certificate. I married James Cordts from Clark, South Dakota in the summer of 1957, and we both taught in Wessington, South Dakota. We moved to Howard for 4 years and then to Madison, South Dakota where we still live now.

All of our children were born in the 60’s. Brad arrived in1964, Bob followed in 1966, and Jean Marie in 1969, so I kept busy at home while Jim continued to teach and coach. When the children were all in school, I returned to finish my degree in elementary education at Dakota State University. I then returned to teach in the Madison School System until my retirement in 1995.

Since our retirement, we enjoyed travel, golf, bridge, reading, and visiting our children and grandchildren. Brad has his own law firm in Memphis, Tennessee. Bob teaches and coaches here in Madison at MHS. Jean Marie is a stay at home mom in Great Falls, Montana, where her husband, Michael Glanzer, practices optometry. They have 2 children, Sam age 5 and Emily age 2…We try to go see them as frequently as possible...I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all at the reunion in September……Caroll (Swenson) Cordts.

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