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Horizons Page 2 Hands-on Learning Hands-on Learningfor a Hands-on Art Form Visual arts professor Butch Holden is surrounded by shelves of ceramic vessels in the middle of a secured room on the lower level of the Education-Art Building at Bemidji State. As he talks, he casually pulls out a recently appraised $28,000 plate crafted by Peter Voulkos, a highly influential artist in the ceramic world. His nonchalance lacks nothing in respect as he explains that Voulkos hung out with many renowned abstract expressionists of the mid-1900s and created ceramics of the same genre, eventually elevating pottery to a fine art. Holden sees a value that transcends the $28,000 appraisal. “Peter Voulkos knew abstract Where We Are ... What We’re Doing ALL CITIES ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. 1920s Anne (Olson) Anderson (’29) taught school in Williams for 33 years, retiring in 1971 when she and her husband, Herman Anderson, moved to the Bemidji area. She was widowed in January. 1930s John Rose (’39) and his wife, Nita, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They live in Carlton. 1940s Oliver Titrud (’48) was recently listed in the Who’s Who in Medicine and Health for his research and practical applications of human dissection involving a new method that does not destroy upper tissues when studying the lower tissues. He lives in Oregon and has one son, Kermit… Ardis (Aho) Esala (’45, ‘73) is retired and lives with her husband, the Rev. T.A. Esala in New York Mills. She taught children with learning disabilities in Wadena for 16 years and retired in 1987. The couple raised four sons and a daughter… Nita Rose (’41) and her husband, John, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They live in Carlton… Eva (Vidas) Young (’49) lives in Chula Vista, CA, and is a professor at the Embry- Butch Holden (left) and student Josh Boock in the Harlow Collection Riddle Aeronautical University teaching humanities, business, aviation and aerospace classes… Janice (Nelson) Linde (’41) and her husband, Erling, live in Moorhead. They raised four children and have six grandchildren… Violet (Pudas) Johnson (’43) and her husband, Russell, are retired and living in International Falls. They have six grown children ranging in age from 42 to 55… Joyce (Dunlap) Doyle (’49) and her husband, Larry, spend their summers in Rockford and winters in Sun Lakes, AZ. They have three children and five grandchildren… Edna (Leen) Edna (Leen) Skold expressionists,” Holden explains with a touch of awe as he shows the plate. “He knew those painters, and was doing the same kind of work in clay.” In turn, Holden takes down a small terra cotta Turkish pot believed to date back to the First Century, the oldest item in the collection. As he moves about the room, he brings out other vessels crafted by notable contemporary artists as well as pieces by BSU students and other emerging potters. Each comes with a story and a lesson in ceramic history and technique. Holden was immersed in the Margaret H. Harlow Ceramics Collection, which consists of more than 350 pieces of mostly contemporary, hand-made vessel Skold (’42) taught for 50 years and is retired and living in Milton-Freewater, OR, where she is an active volunteer. She has two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 1950s Bob Green (’57) and his wife, Peg, are retired and living in St. Petersburg, FL. They have nine grandchildren and are active in church music. Bob sings in the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, toured Scotland with his church choir in June, and sang in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London in 2001… Muriel Copp (’57) lives in Red Wing and works as a secretary for the First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing. She retired in 1993 from Red Wing Technical College after teaching for 36 years… John Schultz Jr. (’50) and his wife, Leila, have three grown children. He’s been retired for 10 years… Dale Sorensen (’57) has served on the Two Harbors School Board for 10 years, having retired from teaching chemistry at Two Harbors. He and his wife, Jean, live in Two Harbors… Genevieve Carter-Lervik (’54) lives in Hibbing and is making plans to attend an international conference in Sweden next year. She has a daughter, Joan, and two grandsons… Keith Cariveau (’58) and his wife, Katherine, retired in 1995 after 37 years in education. They live in Livermore, CA, and have seven grandchildren living in the area… Agnes Macias (’58) lives in Lorton, VA, and is planning a trip to visit her son in Australia this winter. She and her husband, Albert, have five children ranging in age from 31 to 39… Russell (Hukee) Johnson (’52) and his wife, Violet, are retired and live in International Falls. Russell scored his first hole-in-one on Sept. 14 after spending 54 years golfing as a member of the forms and a few rare, historical pieces. In founding the collection, Harlow left BSU with a highly valuable and personal legacy of her lifetime passion for pottery. A recent appraisal of 98 of the pieces for insurance purposes totaled $207,450. For Bemidji State, the real value is intangible. In its diversity, Holden sees the collection as a treasure trove of studio pottery representing a wide range of techniques, glazes and philosophies that make it so valuable for teaching. Josh Boock, a third-year ceramics student, reflected on that value by describing the feeling of holding the 1,900-year-old Turkish pot. “To see it and know that someone long ago pushed on it and left a thumb print I can see and touch is really powerful to me,” he said. “The biggest thing is that we can bring these pieces into class, actually see the work and handle it. There’s so many classes where you just get to look at a book.” Holden credits Harlow for the depth of knowledge the pottery represents. Harlow, 90, graduated from BSU in 1936 with a degree in education and a passion for geography, stones and rock formations, all interests that she further pursued with a military career that allowed her to travel the world. Pottery became a natural extension of these passions and she began collecting pieces. International Falls Country Club. He and Violet have six grown children ranging in age from 42 to 55 …Will Sarkela (’58) was one of five people being inducted in the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame this fall. He has a remarkable 36-year teaching, coaching and administrative career at Grand Rapids High School. He was named District 318 activities director in 1979 and served in that capacity until retiring in 1994. He was recognized by his peers as Region 7AA Athletic Director of the Year in 1987 and 1992, and the Minnesota Athletic Directors Association honored him by selecting him to the Minnesota Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1999. 1960s Jerry Riewer (‘60) is being inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Hall of Fame, receiving the highest honor the Coaches Association bestows upon its members. In 1984 he was also inducted into BSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame… Jeanne Thomas (’64), a retired teachers’ union leader from Burnsville, was inducted May 11 into the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Women’s Hall of Fame. She was selected for, among other things, her efforts to bring teachers and young women into politics and the party. She served numerous roles in the Richfield local of the Minnesota Education Association and traveled the country for eight years giving National Education Association-sponsored workshops designed to inspire women to climb the ladder – in teacher’s union politic, in government and in business. Her husband, Charlie, shares her passion for politics …Joe Merseth (’66) is acting as interim superintendent of Park Rapids schools, having retired as superintendent at Frazee in June of 2001 after spending 35 years in education and the last 10 years in Over the years, her interest and knowledge of pottery deepened and she became a lifelong student of the art. She met potters, studied new works and eventually retired in Walnut Creek, CA, a notable pottery community where she could be close to the potters and the museums she most enjoys. In 1973, Harlow handed then BSU president Robert Decker two cardboard boxes of her personal ceramic collection to seed the beginnings of the teaching collection. In subsequent years, she continued to seek out and contribute pottery before eventually asking a friend, Rick Sherman of (Continued on page 3) Bemidji State University BSU Horizons Vol. 18, No. 2, Winter 2002 - 2003 Produced by the News and Publications Office and the Alumni Office at Bemidji State University, HORIZONS is published quarterly and distributed without charge to BSU alumni, students, faculty, staff and other friends of the University. Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al Nohner Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Berglund Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Swartz President . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jon Quistgaard Alumni Director . . . . . Marla Huss Patrias Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . Jody Grau, Colleen Burke, Cindy Serratore Editorial Assistance . . . . . . . . Peggy Nohner Editorial Board: Dr. Jon Quistgaard, BSU president; Al Nohner, director of news services and publications; Carl Baer, vice president for university advancement; Marla Huss Patrias, director of alumni relations. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Bemidji State University is an equal opportunity educator and employer.This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 1-800-475-2001 or 218-755-3883. 03-207 Noel Bailey his position at Frazee. He and his wife, Karen, who is a paraprofessional in the Detroit Lakes Schools, have three grown children, Chad, 31, Nate, 28, and Maria, 25… Noel Bailey (’63) runs the fitness program for teens and a conditioning fitness program for adults at the Hallett Community Center in Crosby. He taught social studies and coached wrestling in Aitkin for 26 years and is in his fourth year of retirement. He was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000… Terry Potucek (’69), a Warren area farmer and tax accountant, filed as a candidate for re-election to a four-year term on the Marshall County Board. He was first elected to the board in 1994, re-elected in 1998 and is currently chairman of the county board. He is
Hands-on Art Form (Continued) San Jose, to visit BSU. He met with students, viewed the collection, and lectured about its importance. “He came here, saw the way that the collection was used and wanted his collection to become part of it,” Holden recalled of Sherman, an established potter who was an advocate for ceramic education. A year after Sherman died, his wife, Marcella, donated more than 50 pieces to the collection and, as an additional gift to BSU, paid for the recent appraisal. “Other schools, usually larger than BSU, have collections,” Holden explained. “As far as I know, they’re not likely to allow students, especially undergraduates, to actually handle the pieces,” says Holden. Sue Kringen, director of major gifts and planned giving for the BSU Foundation, says the collection’s value is immeasurable for enhancing the educational experience. “Bemidji State would never be able to have a collection like this without Margaret,” said Kringen. “She has given us far more than she knows. Because of her and Rick, and now the generosity of Marcella, we have incredible assets for our students.” Asked about her motivation to give so much, Harlow quickly commented, “I received my degree from there, and they deserve it more than any place I’ve been.” She also noted that she appreci- the board’s representative on the Pembina Trail Resource Conservation and Development Board and Northwest Household Hazardous Waste Joint Powers Board. He and his wife, Joan, have one son, Joey… Robert Ostlund (’66) of Shakopee has accepted a two-year position as interim headmaster of St. Thomas Academy. He served as school superintendent in Shakopee from 1991 until his retirement in June 2000, then served as interim superintendent of the North St. Paul-Maplewood- Oakdale School District from July 2000 to April 2001. After that he joined the Midwest Management Resources consulting group… Eileen Lien (’68) has retired from teaching at the Frank Lien Elementary School in Gonvick, named after her husband who died seven years ago. She has been teaching second graders there since 1977 and began teaching in the Bagley Public School in 1968, moving on to her first job in the Gonvick-Trail School in 1969. She has three children, Mark, Stacy and John, and two grandchildren… Harry Salminen (’67) is a candidate for Becker County Commissioner District 2. He is an independent businessman, a former educator in the Detroit Lakes school system and a former employee of the Governor’s Manpower Office, specializing in economic development in rural areas… Diane Lehse (’66) is the new superintendent of school at the Clearbrook-Gonvick District. During the past five years she’s been superintendent at Kelliher. She started her education career as a teacher in the Rosemount Senior High School and then went to the University of Alaska as a graduate assistant and then an instructor. She has a son and daughter living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. She and her husband, Ron, live in Gonvick… ates hearing from students who have experienced the collection. One of those is Cyrus Swann. He remembers the thrill of finding the works of a favorite potter, Frank Boyden, in the collection. Since then, he has come to appreciate the wide range of ceramics that Harlow collected, which he finds especially impressive because she is not an artist. “The fact that she collected all different forms and pots is really important for teaching,” says Swann. “It’s representative of all the different styles and techniques. It’s almost like she thought of doing it more as a collection for the University than for herself.” A senior, Swann received the Harlow Ceramics Scholarship, which Harlow endowed in support of students studying ceramics. After that, Swann arranged to meet Harlow when he traveled to California. True to form, Harlow encouraged Swann to keep working hard at his craft, and he has. Swann recently was busy examining a collection of spouted cans in the BSU studio. He hopes someday to be a studio potter and teacher, and already has a couple of his own pieces included in the Harlow Collection where they stand among the works of Voulkos, Boyden and other notable potters. “That is a real honor for me to have pots in the collection,” says Swann just before heading back to the studio where the learning continues. Beverly (Schinderle) Pfeilstifter (’63) and her husband, Chuck, are retired and living in Racine, WI. They recently bought a winter home in Florida… Richard Sauer (’62) and his wife, Lorraine, of Bemidji have three grown children and nine grandchildren. He is a retired school principal and she is a retired teacher… Larry Erie (’62) of Pinewood was elected to the Faribault High School Sports Hall of fame in October. He and his wife, Gladys, have three grown children… Arleen (Beiswenger) Boyd (’61) is enjoying retirement and escaping to Arizona in the winter. She makes many visits with her certified therapy dog, Augie… Chuck Clausen (’68) is retired and living in St. Cloud with his wife, Rosemary. He taught elementary school for 32 years, was a sports official for 35 years and the PA “Voice of SCSU Husky Hockey” for many years, as well. The Clausens have two grown children, Jill and Debbie… Wanda (Forsland) Petersen (’68) of Turtle River is a painter and serves as coordinator of the Fly By Night Art Space, a gallery in Bemidji. She and her husband, Warren, have two grown children and one grandson… Pat (Meyer) Syvertsen (’68) and Paul Syvertsen (’68) live in New Haven, CT, and have two children, Kai, 26, and Erik, 21… Jacqueline Olson (’64) of Northome is a retired teacher and is active in Delta Kappa Gamma. She has three grown children… Diane Hoselton Genova (’62) of Pueblo, CO, is the director of a preschool. She has two grown children, Christopher, 30, and Carrie, 28… Colleen Blade (’69) lives in Nashwauk where she is an active volunteer, particularly in the “Relay for Life,” a fund raising event for cancer research… Norman Hecimovich (’60) of Austin is retired and enjoying hunting, fishing and traveling. He and his wife, Helen, have three M grown sons, James, 40, Mark, 38, and Bryan, 33… Leroy Larson (’61) is a founding member of the Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble which has toured the Midwest for more than 20 years, performing at festivals, concerts, dances and made many television and radio performances …Katherine (Johnson) Cariveau (’60) and her husband, Keith, retired in 1995 after 37 years in education. They live in Livermore, CA, and have seven grandchildren living in the area. 1970s Claudia Risnes (’71) has been named executive director of teaching and learning with Minnetonka Public Schools. She brings to the new position nine years of leadership experience in curriculum, instruction, assessment and staff development and had previously served as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Prior to that she’d held the same position in Stillwater… Harry A. Christensen (’79) and his wife, Annette, live in Lebanon, TN, and are anticipating the birth of their first child. He graduated from the Nashville School of Law in 2000 and operates a private practice… Arla (Kari) Nummelin (’73) and her husband, Ollie, live in Covelo, CA, and have three children, Charles, 22, Minna, 13, and Kari, 8 …James Best (’77) took over the job of band director at Stewartville High School this James Best Bemidji State us University fall. He taught last year in Barnum where he headed the IS THE KEY Campaign 2002-2003 Music is Key for Fund Raising Initiative districts entire band program for grades 5-12… Bonnie Lindgren (’75) of Spicer has spent six years teaching in Cairo, Egypt, and continues living and teaching there this year. Prior to that she spent six years teaching in Pakistan and two years in Milan, Italy… Tom Peltier (’73) is seeking a position on the District 318 School Board. He’s been a resident of Itasca County for the past 33 years, lives in rural Cohasset with his wife, Kathy, and has a daughter, Roberta, who graduated in 2000 from Grand Rapids High School. He’s worked for Itasca County for the past 20 years as a county juvenile probation officer and prior to that served as an Itasca County deputy sheriff for 10 years… Julie Zeto (’75) and her husband, Dennis, of Bemidji recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary… Mike Stanich (’72) of International Falls filed as a candidate for the post of Koochiching County auditor-treasurer. He’s served for the past 26 years as budget director for the City of International Falls and during that time served as acting city administrator for four months. In 1973 he served as Minnesota state auditor and from 1973 –76 filled the post of city accountant in Hastings. He and his wife, Vicky, have two children, Shawn and Nicole… Mike Forsberg (’74) received his ordination certificate August 1. He’d been a pastor at Walworth Baptist Church of rural Ulen for the past few years and had been licensed to preach by the First Baptist Church of Park Rapids since 1988… David Pratt (’74) is the new chairman of the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce. He’s employed as director of video operations for Arvig Communications Systems and has been in the cable television industry in the area for more than 20 years. His wife, Horizons Page 3 Bemidji State University fine tuned an initiative to raise funds for its music program during a simultaneous performance by 20 musicians on 20 new upright pianos last fall in the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. The pianists were celebrating the halfway point of the campaign to raise $811,000 for instruments, pianos, scholarships, equipment maintenance, and an endowed visiting artist series. Grants, gifts and donations have already raised over $463,500 with most of the money used to purchase new pianos and to build a state-of-the-art technology lab. A gift of $10,000 was also announced to establish the Ron Gearman Scholarship in honor of the professor emeritus of music who served as a music faculty member at BSU for 31 years, many of them as department chairperson. “The Music is the Key campaign will mean many things to our program,” said Dr. Del Lyren, current chair of the department. “It will nearly double the scholarships we can offer new and returning students. It will allow us to purchase and replace band instruments. “By the start of the spring semester, we will have a new nine-foot Steinway concert grand in the Recital Hall. Bemidji State owns more Steinway grand pianos than any other school in the state, and funds from this effort will help the University repair and maintain our piano inventory.” The purchase of new pianos is one goal of the Music is the Key campaign. The Schmitt Music Company and a grant from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) provided the $206,000 needed to secure the 30 instruments. A donation from the SoundTree Company and another MnSCU grant was used to equip the music lab in Bangsberg. “This new technology will assist in training and preparing future teachers for the modern classroom,” Lyren said of the $180,000 facility. “The entire effort is designed to make the BSU Music Department a destination music school for the upper Midwest.” In addition to the grants and corporate gifts, $77,500 has been raised from individuals for the campaign. To reach the $811,000 goal in one year, the Music Department is accepting donations and pledges. It is also offering sponsorship opportunities, where individuals may donate a minimum of $5,000 to have a name inscribed on a music practice room, classroom, or lab space. Individuals interested in participating in the Music is the Key campaign may contact the Bemidji State University Foundation at 218-755-2762. Deb, works for Bremer Bank in Detroit Lakes, and his two children attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks… Gordon Sirvio (’75) has selfpublished four suspense novels through his own publishing company called Taconite Runes, writing under the name of S.A. Gordon. The books were previously published electronically and are entitled The Deuce of Pentacles, Faces of Doom, Days Between Seasons and Crystal Clear Pond. All four are set in northern Minnesota and include references to Minnesota life… Steve Bolton (’74), a Park Rapids attorney since 1989, is seeking election to the Cass County judgeship in the Ninth Judicial District. He lives in rural Nevis with his wife, Tami, and their children, Alice and Nick… Ellen Weber (’77) and Richard Segler were married June 15 at Bemidji State Park and live in Bemidji… Glen Christianson (’75) and his wife, Vivian, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June… John Tibstra Steve Bolton (’79) and Sue Tibstra (’76) of Bemidji recently received the Johnson-Jarvi Snowjourn Award in honor of their long-term commitment and support of cross country skiing in the Bemidji area… Rick Kleinschmidt (’77), a Willmar police sergeant, filed as a candidate for sheriff of Kandiyohi County. He has 27 years of police experience and has served 20 of (Continued on page 4)
Page 1: BSUCalendar December 6, 2002 Founda
Page 5 and 6: Jeff Baumgartner Boyd Bradbury Curt
Page 7 and 8: Communiques from the alumni directo

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