I lived in Torrance, CA, for 30 years, where I worked in the aircraft industry. I’m now active as an equity investor. -- Rod Sankey I attended Worthington Junior College, intending to study pre-med, and worked as a nursing assistant at Worthington Hospital. I went on to the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1968 with a B.A. in psychology. I was hired by the state of Minnesota while completing my degree to attend training and possibly work as a case worker for a county in Minnesota during my six-month probation. I was hired by Olmsted County to work in pre-placement from the former Rochester State Hospital.
I worked until our first daughter was 18 months old, then semi-retired in the early 1970s to be home with our expanding family. I resumed work with Olmsted County over 20 years ago, working with the disabled and elderly. I retired two years ago to care for my mother (now deceased) and father, who still lives with us.
I married my best friend, Edward Fishel, in 1970. Rebecca was born in 1971; Mary Elizabeth was born in 1974, and David was born in 1980. Mary Elizabeth and her husband, David, who live in Madison, WI, have given us Sylvia Claire on Jan. 9, 2008. I love being a grandma! Little Sylvi had brain surgery on Jan. 23; all seems to be going well.
I praise God for the blessings He has given me in faithful friends and family who have prayed for me in my career choices and changes, guided us in our decisions, healed us from illnesses, and supported us in crises over the years. I look forward to visiting with you and hearing your stories. God bless. -- Sylvia Kennedy Fishel
Cathy Edwards Leistico Watrud and I have been married for 14 years. A lot of changes have happened in our lives. We have five children between us—ages 21 to 36—and two granddaughters. In 2007 we moved from Minnesota to Texas to be closer to our granddaughters, who are 6 and 8 (and oh, yeah, to their parents too!).
Cathy and I are both still working—Cathy is a financial analyst for Countrywide Mortgage in Fort Worth, and I am a management consultant working with community banks in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. I commute every other week to the cold country (15° below zero in Minnesota in February while it was 70° in Fort Worth) and will continue to commute for the next three or four years. Life has been good to us—good health, a good marriage, good kids and grandkids, and now—year-round golf!
—Dave Watrud
The most recent significant event in my life would be my marriage....(read more when the memory book is published!) I had crushes on some of my teachers in high school and ended up marrying....(read more in the memory book!) Did my life turn out as I’d planned? No! I could have given up....(read more in the memory book!) I've been an English teacher, business owner, cement mason, landscaper, hospice R.N. and administrator....(read more in the memory book!) I would have loved to call my mom to tell her I was going to meet the President....(read more in the memory book!) Bulldozing my way into a “man’s field” was no easy feat, but I was not to be discouraged....(read more in the memory book!) My most memorable job was working for NASA on the Apollo program & meeting all the astronauts....(read more in the memory book!) | My husband, Ralph Post, and I have three children, three stepchildren, five grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, one great-grandson and eight step-great-grandchildren. I’m retired from working with mentally and physically challenged individuals for the state of Nebraska. -- Betty Pick Post After high school, I attended Worthington Junior College for a year. Then I took a job in the circulation department of a newspaper in Great Bend, KS, where my dad was with Montgomery Ward. After a year in Kansas, I enlisted in the Navy for four years, including two years (1966-68) home ported in Japan with a destroyer squadron. This was the height of the Vietnam War, and our ship sometimes shelled non-stop for days in support of our ground troops. My time in the Navy was very rewarding, and upon my discharge in 1969 I came back with a new outlook on life.
I worked on the construction of I-90, married Cheryl Eggleston Martin Kilker, moved to Mankato to attend school, then back to Kansas and back again to Minnesota. My first marriage, from which I have a daughter, ended after some unfortunate choices on my part. I dropped out in California for a while and met a Minnesota girl there. We returned to the Twin Cities and were married for about 10 years. About 20 years ago, I returned to southwestern Minnesota, where I’ve been ever since.
I feel fortunate to have been part of the Class of '63 and of all the things I've experienced since those great years attending the Worthington school system. During all the transitions I used up my veterans’ education benefits, attending five different campuses without getting a degree. I used the last of my benefits while attending Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and decided that the education I'd gotten through the years was all I was supposed to get and that was it. Looking back on it, I’d give up hardly any of it for something different. No degree, but what an education!
—Bill Simpson
I graduated with a diploma in nursing in 1966 and worked at Memorial Hospital, Long Beach, CA, into 1967. From 1968 to 1973 I worked at Sioux Valley Hospital in the emergency room and was head nurse in intensive care. I entered anesthesia training at Mount Marty College in 1973, got a BA in health care and administration from Ottawa College in Kansas in 1981, and earned a master’s in anesthesia in 1990. I now work at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls three days a week.
For about three years I’ve been a foster mom to rescued dogs. I work with Pet Pals in Sioux Falls, Almost Home Rescue in Madison, SD, and Dakota Dachshund Rescue in Sioux Falls. I adopted a miniature dachshund, “Fred,” two years ago, and I also have a miniature schnauzer, “Sophie,” aged 12 years.
I like to read, especially Patricia Cornwell mysteries. I do a bit of gardening. This year I plan to do volunteer work at Children’s Home Society or Children’s Inn in Sioux Falls. In September, two friends and I will vacation in southern France for 12 days. I’m looking forward to seeing France and its people.
I’m excited to see old friends again, and I want to thank all the volunteers for putting the reunion together.
—Mary Meier
We celebrated our first anniversary in Egypt....(read more when the memory book is published!) ...so any kind of retirement to our home in Mexico is not soon on the agenda....(read more in the memory book!) If I knew then what I know now, I would consider a career as a chef....(read more in the memory book!) |