On ThE cOvEr - Mount Marty College

Winter 2009-10
UPDATE
The Alumni Publication of Mount Marty
On ThE cOvEr
Mother JeroMe SchMitt
i n d u c t e d i n t o s o u t h d a k o ta
h a l l o f f a m e p.5
Benedictine inStitUte
o f l e a d e r s h i p, e t h i c s a n d
s o c i a l j u s t i c e p.11
Shad hoUSeley awarded
a l u m n i c o a c h o f t h e y e a r p.18
Mount Marty Update 1

From The
President Dear Friends,
”Mother Jerome
Schmitt’s
leadership set the
standard by which
we measure our
success today.”
It is exciting and humbling in this issue to pay tribute
to Mother Jerome Schmitt. As we prepare for our 75th
anniversary in 2011, her induction into the South Dakota
Hall of Fame couldn’t have come at a more appropriate
time.
There has been no other person in the history of Mount
Marty College who exhibited the level of gumption,
foresight, and vision of Mother Jerome. Despite tough
economic times, scant resources and naysayers, she
forged ahead with plans to provide education to the
region… and she succeeded.
Always focused on the mission and always focused on
the student, her leadership set the standard by which we
measure our successes today. With her solid foundation,
we continue that mission as we adapt to the changing
education and technology needs of today’s industries.
Congratulations to Mother Jerome Schmitt on this very
special honor. Mount Marty College has been blessed to
have your vision as our cornerstone.
Sincerely,
James T. Barry, Ed.D.
President

Inside
This Issue
Mother Jerome Schmitt Hall of Fame Induction ................................5-8
Achievements .........................................................................................9
Benedictine Institute of Leadership, Ethics and Social Justice ............ 11
Commencement Highlights ............................................................12-13
Sister Bonita Gacnik reflects on her trip to Africa ..........................14-15
Highlights from the Alumni trip to Italy .........................................16-17
Updates from the Athletic Department ................................................18
Updates from the Arts ..........................................................................19
Campus News .................................................................................20-21
Faculty and Staff Notes ...................................................................23-24
Alumni Notes ..................................................................................25-29
Honor Roll of Donors ..........................................................................31
Alumni Directories to
arrive in March:
If you were contacted last fall on
behalf of Mount Marty by Publishing
Concepts, Inc. and purchased an
alumni directory, rest assured that your
payment was applied towards your
copy of the alumni directory and your
copy will be mailed in the month of
March. If you have any questions please
contact the Advancement Office at
605-668-1542.
correction
Our appologies to Melissa and Jeffrey Kosch for a misprint in the last issue of
the Update. The marriage announcement should have read: Melissa Schmidt
c’05 and Jeffrey Kosch, May 29, 2009.
UPDATE
The Alumni Publication of Mount Marty
Fall/winter 2009-10 edition
Update, a Mount Marty College Alumni publication, is published to share information
and updates on alumni, programs, activities and needs of the college. Send class notes
and information updates to: Mount Marty College, Christine Tudor, Alumni Director,
1105 W. 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078. Phone: 605-668-1292, Fax: 605-668-1240,
email: ctudor@mtmc.edu.
contributors:
Laura Baumeister, Editor
Tera Schmidt, Contributing Writer
Jamie Ridgway, Publications Manager
Christine Tudor, Alumni Director
Dr. Derek Wesley, VP for Institutional Advancement
Mount Marty Update 3

Christine Tudor
Alumni Director
You matter...
Our theme this year in the Alumni
Office and Advancement Office at
Mount Marty is “You Matter”… We
have done a lot of reflecting on this
simple statement.
The “You” encompasses so many.
The “You” are staff and instructors
who dedicate their time and talents
to the college and give so much
more than their salary calls for. The
“You” are the Benedictine Sisters
who have dedicated their lives to Mount Marty and all aspects
of educating young, eager minds. The “You” are the parents
of our students who sacrificed to have their young people
attend Mount Marty. The “You” are our students who, every
day, are making strides to further their education and create
memories they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
And most importantly the “You” are our alumni who have
walked the halls of our various campuses and have fashioned
their lives around educational experiences. “You,” our precious
alumni, matter.
Thank you so much for keeping in touch. Every e-mail,
phone call and alumni note we get is important to us. We are
in the process of printing a new 2010 alumni directory. You
have been contacted to verify your information by Publishing
Concepts out of Dallas, Texas. They are publishing our
directory and it will be sent to those of you who ordered it in
March of 2010.
Please mark your calendars for Alumni Days 2010. Alumni
Days 2010 will be July 16, 17 and 18. The honored year
classes will be years ending in 0 and 5, with special note for
the classes of 1960 and 1985. Make your vacation plans now
and try to come for the weekend. Every one of you matter.
The more alums who make the journey back, the better the
event will be for everyone.
God bless you and your family, and thank you for your support
of Mount Marty. If you have any updates or questions,
feel free to contact me, Christine Tudor, Alumni Director, at
(605) 668-1292 or e-mail me at ctudor@mtmc.edu.
Sincerely,
Christine Tudor
Alumni Director
Students attending Mount Marty College are now eligible for a scholarship
made possible through the generosity of the Otto Ullrich Trust. The trust
was established by lifelong Yankton resident, Otto Ullrich, to benefit a
variety of local groups and organizations.
When he died in 2006, Ullrich specified in his will the types of projects he
thought the money should benefit. The scholarships developed through
the Ullrich gift will provide funds to students who are studying in the fields
of nursing and/or healthcare and reside in the greater Yankton area.
“The college is so appreciative of the generosity shown by Mr. Ullrich and
the trustees of his estate,” said Dr. Derek Wesley, Mount Marty’s Vice
President for Institutional Advancement. “His gifts will greatly assist
students who are pursuing their dream in higher education.”
Dr. James T. Barry, President of Mount Marty College, was equally thankful. “Finances are at the
forefront of concerns for college students. But this fall, the first recipients of the scholarship funds
began classes with the knowledge that Otto Ullrich’s generosity and vision helped them get there.”
Mount Marty College is able to award financial aid to roughly 99 percent of the students, partly due
to federal assistance but also thanks to the generosity and foresight of philanthropic individuals like
Ullrich.
Thank You Students Benefit from Ullrich Scholarship
For information on how you can establish a scholarship or endowment with the college, contact
Christine Tudor at 605-668-1292.
Mount Marty Update 4

Mount Marty Founder
named to South dakota
hall of Fame
Mother Jerome Schmitt, oSB

The Legacy of
Mother Jerome
Schmitt
March 30, 1899, Mary Catherine
Schmitt is born to immigrant farming
parents in Epiphany, S.D.
At the age of 15, Mary Catherine enters
the Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton,
S.D.
In 1919 at age 20, Mary Catherine
professes her first vows and becomes
Sister Jerome.
In 1922, Sister Jerome graduates with
a bachelor’s degree from St. Teresa
College in Winona, Minn., and returns
to Mount Marty High School to teach
languages.
June 4, 1932, Sister Jerome is elected
convent prioress to head a community
of 291 Benedictine Sisters.
August 9, 1935, in the midst of the
Great Depression, Mother Jerome signs
a contract with W.A. Klinger Company
to begin the construction of Bede Hall
at a cost of $234,000.
September 7, 1936, Mount Marty
Junior College becomes a reality with
Mother Jerome as first President.
September 22, 1945, Mother Jerome
calls for construction of the Bishop
Marty Chapel.
In 1953, Mother Jerome expands
Mount Marty College by beginning
construction on Whitby Hall and
Marian Auditorium.
March 15, 1983, Mother Jerome
Schmitt passes away in her sleep at
Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton.
Among her accomplishments, Mother
Jerome served five consecutive terms
as President and Prioress from 1932
to 1961, witnessed the vows of 345
new Benedictine Sisters, opened a new
priory, oversaw the management of four
hospitals and nursing home, assigned
Sisters to teaching assignments in 20
regional schools, built Benet Hall for
Nurses and launched the campaign to
build Corbey Hall and Roncalli Center
on the MMC campus.
The Mother Jerome Schmitt Hall
of Fame display at the Awards
Banquet in Chamberlain, S.D.
Mother Jerome Honored For
Contributions To Education
& Cultural Affairs
Mother Jerome Schmitt, OSB, the founder and first president of Mount Marty
College, was a woman of exceptional vision and courage. The daughter of German
immigrants, she was born March 30, 1899, near Epiphany, S.D., and named Mary
Catherine. In 1914, just as World War I broke out in Europe, she entered Sacred
Heart Convent, Yankton, at the age of 15. After completing high school, she became
a novice and received the name Sister Jerome.
By 1922 she had earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Teresa College, Winona,
Minn., and began teaching English, Latin and French in the newly-opened Mount
Marty Academy for girls in Yankton. The next year she added the duties of academy
principal to her role as teacher, a dual position she continued until 1932 when she
was elected prioress by her Benedictine community.
These Benedictine Sisters, who had come to America from Switzerland over a half
century earlier to work with Native Americans and European immigrants, had
well-established ministries in education and healthcare. By the early 1930s, they
were searching to make higher education available to both Sisters and lay women
desiring preparation for professional careers. Mother Jerome quickly took the lead in
this quest and, despite the extreme poverty of the Great Depression, determined to
begin a junior college for women.
The task was overwhelming, but she was undaunted. By 1935, she had approved
plans for a college building, which she had had an architect draw up. But she had
only $90,000 cash to begin the building projected to cost nearly $300,000. Yet,
despite the Sisters’ intense poverty and financial institutions’ multiple rejections
of her requests for a loan, Mother Jerome did not give up. Construction began in
August 1935, and a loan came through in March 1936. Junior college classes began

“The future of our college depends a great deal
on keeping our mission clear and on actually
achieving this mission in the lives of our students.”
in September 1936. Fifteen years later in 1951, with Mother
Jerome still president, the liberal arts college awarded its first
baccalaureate degrees. Now 72 years from its founding, the
co-educational college offers 32 undergraduate majors and
three graduate programs.
During the 21 years Mother Jerome served as president of
Mount Marty College, she also continued as prioress of
Sacred Heart Monastery, working to improve the quality of
life not only in Yankton but across the upper Midwest. She
was responsible for oversight of Sacred Heart Hospital and
its growing school of nursing on an adjacent campus, as well
as numerous elementary and secondary schools which the
Sisters staffed in the four-state region of North and South
Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado. In each of these she urged
and supported the staffs to develop their institution’s full
potential and provide the best possible service to those they
served.
Her strong leadership was also evident on the monastery
campus. She had a home built there for workmen who
were in need of shelter at the time of their employment. A
high point of her career as a builder was the planning and
construction of Bishop Marty Chapel, a Yankton landmark
— Mother Jerome Schmitt
Dr. James T. Barry (second from left in
front row) with the South Dakota Hall of
Fame honorees.
today. The chapel, which was begun immediately after World
War II, was completed in 1950 despite federal building
restrictions and difficulties bringing building supplies to the
site. Once again, she refused to give up and saw the project to
completion.
Mother Jerome, a woman of many and varied interests,
somehow found time for them. Deeply appreciating the
importance of the humanities and the arts, she delighted
in the college’s hosting music and drama festivals, book
discussions, art displays and the like. She was adamant that
the liberal arts form the core of the college’s curriculum. In
fact, after retiring as college president in 1957 and monastery
prioress in 1961, she earned a master’s degree in German at
Marquette University and returned to Mount Marty College
to teach German and chair the modern language department.
Her interest in healthcare also spanned her leadership years
— and beyond. In 1948, she became the first president of
the South Dakota Hospital Association. From 1969-1978,
while formally retired, she ministered in pastoral care, first
in Canon City, Colo., and then at Sacred Heart Hospital,
Yankton. In fact, the afternoon she died, March 14, 1983,
she went to a local mortuary to visit the family of a recent
Mount Marty Update 7

hospital patient who had died, then returned
to the monastery, and within several hours had
passed away herself.
Mother Jerome was likewise a leader in spiritual
development throughout her career. She was
a strong leader in promoting the development
of church liturgy, especially the use of English
in liturgies. In 1956, she was one of only three
American women invited to participate in the
International Liturgical Congress in Assisi,
Italy. Likewise, she was one of the founders
and a continuing leader in the Federation of St.
Gertrude, an organization of Benedictine Sisters’
communities.
In 1980, at the celebration of Mother Jerome as
Yankton’s Citizen of the Year, keynote speaker,
Robert Karolevitz observed: “There is an
unusual woman in our midst whose leadership
and personal dedication have left a cultural
and economic impact on Yankton almost
unmatched in the history of the city.” Five years
Mount Marty Update 8
Sister Jennifer Kehrwald, Prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery, along with the nieces of Mother
Jerome Schmitt and their husbands, were present at the Hall of Fame banquet. Posing for
a picture from left are: Sister Jennifer Kehrwald, Prioress, Darrel Eich, Shirley Eich, Sister
Madonna Schmitt, Janice Wermers and Ray Wermers.
later, as Mount Marty College celebrated its
50th anniversary, the Yankton Press & Dakotan
congratulated the college in these words: “In
terms of academics, athletics and the arts, Mount
Marty’s impact has been positive and significant.
Yankton, without the Mount, would be far less
rich as a community in areas that really count.”
That this impact, these programs and these
graduates are enriching lives yet today is to a large
extent due to the far-reaching vision and strength
of the remarkable leader Mother Jerome Schmitt.
Undoubtedly, this inimitable and indefatigable
woman changed, literally and figuratively, the
landscape of Yankton and South Dakota — as well
as places beyond like Lincoln, Neb., and Canon
City, Colo. — with the gifts of Mount Marty
College and other ministries of service which she
had the vision, courage and perseverance to begin
to nurture to maturity.

Business Ethics Scholarship
Awarded To Kruse
Wayne Ibarolle, Edward Jones Financial Advisor and
Benefactor of the Business Ethics Scholarship, along with
Dr. Derek Wesley, Mount Marty College Vice President
for Institutional Advancement, present the 2009 scholarship
recipient, Amber Kruse, with a certificate of recognition.
100 Percent Of Nursing
Grads Pass National Exam
The entire class of 2009 Mount Marty College nursing
students passed the National Council Licensure Examination
for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
With a 100 percent pass rate, Mount Marty’s nursing
graduates have surpassed the national average of 87 percent.
Even more impressive is the fact that all of the Mount Marty
graduates passed on their first attempt with the examination.
“We are delighted with this news and give full credit to
the students themselves for their sincere approach to their
studies and their desire to be a professional nurse,” said Dr.
Jacqueline Kelley, RN, MPH, DNP, chair of Mount Marty’s
Division of Nursing. “I also give full thanks and credit to our
hardworking nursing faculty and all other Mount Marty College
faculty who helped to make this happen!”
Mount Marty’s nursing students consistently achieve a
high NCLEX-RN pass rate. A full 92 percent of last year’s
graduates passed. All nursing employers require NCLEX-
RN licensure as they hire graduate nurses.
Mount Marty
Named Champions
of Character
Institution
The National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA) named 231 colleges and
universities to the list of Champions of
Character institutions for the 2008-09
school year, including Mount Marty College,
Yankton. This represents an increase of 31
institutions over last year.
The mission of Champions of Character
is to restore character values and raise a
generation of students who understand and
demonstrate in everyday decisions integrity,
respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and
servant leadership. The NAIA and member
institutions use the Champions of Character
program to instill an understanding of
character values in sport, and provide studentathletes,
coaches and parents the training to
help them know and do the right things, inside
and outside the sports setting. The program is
dedicated to the principle that character is a
choice and that being a champion is not just
about winning, but making good decisions
consistently in daily life.
To be considered a Champions of Character
institution, schools must complete a form,
which is later reviewed by a team directed
by NAIA Vice President of Champions of
Character, Rob Haworth. These schools
incorporate the five core values in the campus
community and educate student-athletes,
coaches, parents and fans on specific standards
and expectations.
“The Champions of Character program
supports performance-driven athletics while
defining expectations and standards that drive
successful teams and athletic departments,”
said Haworth. “I congratulate these fine
institutions and thank the administrators,
coaches and student-athletes for playing a role
in advancing character-driven intercollegiate
athletics.”
Mount Marty Update 9
Achievements

Create A Lasting Legacy
Through An Endowment
The endowment program at Mount Marty
continues to grow because more and more of
our alumni and friends recognize the benefits of
creating their own endowment funds.
Some prefer to launch their endowments now
so they can see the results, and others make
arrangements to establish endowments later on
with estate assets. And some prefer to start an
endowment now and add more to it later through
a bequest.
Here are a couple of examples:
George and Gloria Kayser were married later in
life. For George it was a first marriage, for Gloria,
a second marriage after her first husband died.
Gloria was a non-traditional student and received
a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education
and a master’s degree in counseling. In gratitude
for God’s gifts and because of their generous
hearts, George and Gloria sought to build a better
tomorrow by establishing the George and Gloria
Kayser Endowed Scholarship Fund to assist
students from South Dakota who work hard to
obtain a value centered college education.
Tragically, their time together was cut short.
Gloria died just a few years later. George was so
grief stricken. He sent money annually to build
up the George and Gloria Kayser Scholarship
fund. Even after George was in the nursing home
following a stroke, he still regularly sent money to
the endowment fund. And when he died this year,
his estate made a final sizable contribution to the
scholarship fund. The George and Gloria Kayser
Scholarship will continue to help students find an
affordable, value based education at Mount Marty
for years and years into the future.
Martha Foecke always encouraged all of
her descendants — children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren — to pursue higher
education. She taught by her example of
Christian living. As a young girl, she dreamed
of becoming a nurse. Her family, noting the
rapidly deteriorating health of their mother,
and wishing to do something to perpetuate her
memory, established the Martha Foecke Nursing
Endowed Scholarship fund. Their gift to her, on
her 94th birthday on November 26, 1998, was the
establishment of this scholarship.
Ten years ago this month Martha Foecke
died. Since its inception, this scholarship has
been helping students achieve their dream at
Mount Marty College. What a lasting tribute to a
wonderful lady.
Why did these people choose to make
endowment gifts to Mount Marty? There are a
number of reasons, of course. Here are five you
may wish to consider:
1. Durability. The idea of creating a perpetual
stream of financial support makes sense to people
who see a similarity between retirement funds and
endowment provisions. They like the concept
of a fund that is guarded and invested separately
from other assets so the principal of the fund will
stay intact. Only a portion of the income will be
used.
2. A Positive Legacy. When donors attach
their names to an endowment fund, they create
an enduring legacy that will outlive them and
influence succeeding generations. Grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and other family members
and friends will be reminded of the person’s
values and commitments. Endowment funds can
also be used to honor the lives of others who
have made a significant impact on the donor or
Mount Marty.
3. Perpetuate Annual Gifts. Many donors
see an endowment fund as a means to underwrite
their own regular giving to Mount Marty. It
is a great way to keep giving generation after
generation.
4. A Stronger Mount Marty. Each year,
Mount Marty must raise a certain number of
dollars to meet operational costs to sustain
facilities, programs and personnel. Raising
money for the “here and now” is always a priority.
Annual payouts from endowment funds relieve
some of this pressure and permit the board and
executive team to plan more confidently for the
future. An organization with a strong endowment
is simply more stable financially.
5. Personal Satisfaction. It is wonderfully
fulfilling to do something good that lasts,
something that really makes a difference. Other
kinds of giving are important, but having your
name on a fund that will benefit others for
centuries is truly satisfying.
If you would like to learn more about Mount
Marty’s endowment program, call Chris Tudor at
605-668-1292 or ctudor@mtmc.edu.

Benedictine Institute of
Leadership, Ethics and
Social Justice Announced
"Listen and attend with the ear
of your heart." — St. Benedict
With the support of a $1 million grant from the Sisters of Sacred
Heart Monastery, Mount Marty College announced the inauguration
of the Benedictine Institute for Leadership, Ethics and Social Justice.
The announcement was made at a press conference Aug. 5 with Dr.
James T. Barry, President of Mount Marty College and Sister Maribeth
Wentzlaff, newly-appointed director of the Institute.
The Benedictine Institute will focus on four core elements
including: ethical leadership and service, the Benedictine Lecture
Series and Visiting Scholar program, Intensive service projects and a
Benedictine Diversity Program.
Among some of the early involvement of the Benedictine
Institute was a social justice announcement on Aug. 18 where “The
Other Yankton” and community needs were explored, leadership
development workshops for the staff, faculty and students of Mount
Marty College.
Service trips, community projects and many other avenues of
compassionate action will also be part of the program.
According to Dr. James T. Barry, President of Mount Marty College,
the Institute is the first of its kind for Mount Marty and originated with
former Mount Marty College President, Sister Jacqueline Ernster.
“One of her legacies as president of Mount Marty College and
later as prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery is this Institute,” Barry
explained.
He pointed out the issues discussed and concepts explored within
the Institute are everyday issues that need to be dealt with.
“It captures the vision and intent of the sisters of Sacred Heart
Monastery with the Mission of Mount Marty College to better
understand and serve the needs of the people we serve in this region.
These are issues that surround us every day, and we need to deal with
in a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts setting. Through the Institute, we
establish a closer understanding not only of how we can serve, but also
an understanding that we are expected to serve.”
As director of the Benedictine Institute, Sister Wentzlaff will
orchestrate the many efforts of the Institute in concert with existing
outreach and cultural experiences.
“The Institute offers a beautiful tie-in to our Mission Statement.
That statement says that we prepare students for a contemporary world
of work, service to the human community and personal growth. The
Institute could not have come at a more crucial time in our country’s
history, to help our students become better leaders with an ethical
background,” she stated.
The Benedictine Institute will be guided by an advisory committee
consisting of Dr. Barry; Sister Wentzlaff; Sarah Carda, Vice President
and Dean of Student Affairs; Bob Tereshinski, Interim Vice President
and Dean of Academic Affairs; Jordan Foos, Mount Marty Junior;
Roger Heidt, Director of Deacon Formation, Diocesan Director of
Planning; Michael McVay, recently retired Cardiologist and current
Director of the Avera Center for MindBodySpirit; Sister Penny
Bingham, Sub-Prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery; Carol DeSchepper,
Avera Vice President of Community-Based Care; Reverend Joe Schulte
from the United Church of Christ; Wayne Ibarolle, Edward Jones
Financial Advisor; and Sister Sharon Ann Haas, Mount Marty Faculty
member and chair of the Mount Marty Mission Committee.
Mount Marty Update 11

4
Mount Marty Update 12
1
3
2
5

More than 100 Graduate From
Mount Marty college
Sisters Jeanette, Jane Klimisch receive honorary doctorates
Despite fresh snow cover and cold
temperatures, Fall Commencement
exercises at Laddie E. Cimpl Arena
drew more than 500 guests to the
Mount Marty campus on Saturday,
December 12. More than half of the
103 graduates received their Masters
degrees in Nurse Anesthesia or
Business Administration. This was
the first MBA class to also include
students from the Yankton campus.
Special recognition was given
to twin sisters who were awarded
Honorary Doctorates of Humane
Letters. Sister Jeanette Klimisch and
Sister Jane Klimisch both attended
Mount Marty Junior College and later
St. Mary of the Woods College, before
returning to Sacred Heart Monastery
in Yankton.
Sister Jeanette taught at Mount
Marty College in 1943 as an instructor
in speech, drama and music. In 1953,
she earned her masters from Catholic
University in Washington, D.C. She
served four years as Vice President
for Academic Affairs at Mount Marty,
was named Outstanding Educator
of America in 1970, and was the
director of the Mount Marty Alumni
association in the late 70s and early
80s. In 1992, she developed an oral
history resource center for Sacred
Heart Monastery.
Sister Jane Klimisch also returned
to teach at Mount Marty College
while she continued her studies in
music. She earned her masters in
music education from the American
Conservatory in Chicago and later her
Ph.D. in Musicology from Washington
University in St. Louis. In 1971 she
established a Gregorian Chant archive
which impressively holds over 300
volumes and stands as one of only
two such centers in the United States.
From 1974-1977, she also served as
Academic Dean for Mount Marty
Photos on opposite Page
1 Sisters Jeanette and Jane Klimisch were honored with honorary
doctorates for their years of dedication to the college and the community.
2 Mount Marty President Dr. James T. Barry welcomes the graduates and
guests to the 2009 Fall Commencement Exercises, Dec. 12 at Laddie E.
Cimpl Arena, Yankton campus.
3 Sister Jeanne Weber, chair of the Mount Marty Board of Trustees and Dr.
Barry pose for a photo with Dr. Michael McVay, who received a
Humanitarian Award and gave the commencement address.
4 Dr. McVay speaks to the assembled crowd about using prayer and
meditation to foster good holistic health.
5 Dr. Alfred Lupien of the Mount Marty Master’s in Nurse Anesthesia
program presents the Agatha Hodgkins Award to Starr Fedders and
Michael Weis (pictured above him).
College.
Also recognized at commencement
was Dr. Michael McVay with the
Mount Marty Humanitarian Award.
A former Board of Trustees member
for Mount Marty and a long-time
community physician, McVay was the
commencement speaker and invited
the graduates to consider their full
well-being, mind, body and spirit, in
all aspects of their lives.
The graduating class of the
Masters in Nurse Anesthesia program
recognized outstanding students Starr
Fedders and Michael Weis with the
Agatha Hodgkins Award. This award
is given to the graduating student who
demonstrates academic and clinical
excellence; and emulates the ideals of
caring, service and lifelong learning.
Following commencement graduates
and their families enjoyed the hospitality
of a reception held in their honor at
the Cyber Café.
“When
you leave
here,
don’t
forget
why you
came.”
~ Adlai Stevenson
Mount Marty Update 13

Into Africa
I spent six weeks last summer in Tanzania; five of those
weeks were spent with the African Benedictine Sisters
of Ndanda in Tanzania. The Alliance of International
Monasticism (AIM) paid for vaccinations and
transportation to Tanzania.
I arrived in Dar es Salaam on May 15 and left from
Kilimanjaro International Airport on June 23. My
traveling companion was Sister Dianne Maresh, a
Benedictine from Crookston, Minn. The experience was
41 days of pure delight, excitement and adventure. The
trip began in Dar es Salaam for some initial orientation to
Tanzania. Sister Auxilia Hokororo, a May 2007 graduate
of Mount Marty College and a member of the African
Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady Help of Christians in
Ndanda, met us at the airport in Dar and introduced us to
her country.
After two days in Dar es Salaam, we flew to Mtwara, a
small town situated on the eastern coast of Tanzania, right
next to the Indian Ocean in the southeastern corner of the
Mount Marty Update 14
~ Personal account by Sister Bonita Gacnik
Sister Bonita arrived in Wtwara. The sisters greeted her at the airport with a lei, flowers and kanga. The sister on the far right is the mother
superior of the sisters.
Mount Marty Gives 12 Laptops to the Benedictine Sisters of Ndanda
country. There Sister Dianne and I stayed in guest house
of the bishop and worked with the African Benedictine
Sisters. The sisters live in a convent in the bishop’s
compound. The compound hosts a variety of buildings
and activities: the bishop’s house, the diocese offices, the
Mtwara Secondary School for Sisters, the convent, two
guest houses, a kindergarten, the cathedral, the parish hall,
and several other buildings that are being renovated to
become a part of the Catholic University of Tanzania. At
any given time, there were from 12 to 24 sisters staying at
the convent in Mtwara. Sister Auxilia lives at the convent
and is the headmistress of the Mtwara Secondary School
for Sisters (MSSS).
Sister Dianne spent her days teaching ESL classes to
the sisters attending MSSS and she spent her evenings
teaching ESL classes to the sisters living at the convent.
I worked closely with Sister Auxilia at the school. I
wrote a $15,000 Hilton Foundation grant for the school
requesting an institutional copy machine, faculty office

furniture, and educational materials.
In addition, I did some tutoring in
mathematics and physics and I set
up a computer lab (six laptops) for
the school. Mount Marty College
donated 12 laptops to the African
Benedictines and Sacred Heart
Monastery shipped these units (air
priority) to Tanzania and provided
the funding for the cabling, a printer,
a projection system, typing software,
English software, a digital camera, and
an Internet connection for the school.
While in Mtwara, I also repaired
two of their bikes. One of the sisters
rides her bike three miles (one way)
each day to teach fifth grade math at a
public elementary school.
We spent almost three weeks in
Mtwara followed by two weeks at
the mother house in Ndanda where
I set up a second computer lab (six
laptops) and Sister Dianne continued
teaching ESL classes. In Ndanda, I
taught elementary computer classes
and did some technology trouble
shooting.
While working with the sisters,
we spent a couple of days at their
novitiate in Narunyu where they have
a cashew tree orchard, a coconut palm
tree orchard and a farm. In Narunyu,
some of the buildings receive
electrical power from biofuel from
the cow manure. Here they also have
the beginnings of a carpenter shop, a
candle factory and a small store.
One day, the sisters took us to a
small village very near the border
between Tanzania and Mozambique
where the sisters run a dispensary.
People travel (walk) for days to get
to the dispensary for treatment. A
significant percent of the people they
serve have AIDS.
The African Benedictine Sisters
were delightful to be with. Everything
we did was fun and every project was
an African adventure. Nothing is easy
in Africa. However, we were laughing
Above is the laptop computer lab in Ndanda at the Motherhouse.
This picture was taken during one of the computer classes.
much of the time. That’s just the way
it is. They have very little, but they are
happy people and they are grateful for
what they do have.
After leaving Ndanda and Mtwara,
we visited the Holy Spirit Sisters
in Moshi at the base of Mount
Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania.
I have stayed in touch with Sister
Benedicta and Sister Monica who
spent their sabbatical with us at
Sacred Heart Monastery from 1995-
97. It was pure gift to see Sister
Benedicta again. And, as luck would
have it, Sister Monica arrived from
Germany for a home visit on the
Saturday that we were there. Sister
Ponsiana (she has also spent time in
Yankton) was among the sisters who
greeted us at the
airport. However,
she returned to her
ministry the next
day. The Holy Spirit
Sisters have a lovely
monastery and it was
good to spend time
with them.
What would a
trip to Africa be
without seeing some
of the wild animals
so characteristic of
Africa? The Holy Spirit Sisters helped
us arrange for a safari while we were
there. On safari, we drove through the
Rift Valley and the neighboring rain
forest on our way to the Ngorngoro
Crater (preservation area) and then
to the Serengeti. Our eyes feasted on
a multitude of wild animals: lions,
elephants, giraffes, hippos, water
buffalo, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles
and more. We had the good fortune
to be in the Serengeti during the
“Great Migration.”
My six weeks in Tanzania was an
experience of a lifetime! Thank you
to Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton,
AIM and Mount Marty College for
making this trip of service possible.
Sister Bonita Gacnik and Sister Auxilia Hokororo C’08, Head
Mistress at the Mtwara Secondary School for Sisters.
Mount Marty Update 15
Service

Ciao! A
Mount Marty Update 16
group of Mount Marty alumni and friends
enjoyed “A Taste of Tuscany and Umbria” tour
in May, 2009. The tour included a Tuscan
cooking class, three wine tasting events and
visits to Florence, San Gimignano, Siena,
Montalcino, Corona, Perugia, Assisi, and Rome,
including a tour of the Vatican. Check out the
advertisement on the next page for information
on this year’s tour.

Lourdes, Fatima & the
Way of St. James Tour
offered by Mount Marty College
September 16–26, 2010
11-day tour includes round-trip airfare,
accommodations, daily breakfasts, 5 three-course
dinners, a private Tour Director and motorcoach,
sightseeing and entrance fees to select sights in
France, Spain and Portugal.
To learn more, please contact Ronda Barry by email
at rbarry@vyn.midco.net or phone at 1-605-665-2119.
Reservations are made through Go Ahead Tours at
1-800-438-7672. Reference Group Number 57200299.

Athletics
housely named coach of the year
The Mount Marty College Athletic Department recently
awarded Shad Housley as the first annual Alumni Coach
of the Year. This award will be given annually to an
MMC Grad that has shown success in coaching. Selection
of the award recipient is based on nomination from
current coaches. Housley will receive recognition at the
end of the year sports banquet. Housley, a 1998 graduate
of the college, has spent his entire post-graduate coaching
career at Benson High School in Benson, AZ. Housley
received his Bachelors Degree in Education, and also
has a Masters in Teaching with a School Administration
endorsement.
Housley was a baseball player for the Lancers from
1992-1994 and 1996-1998. As a four-year starter for
Mount Marty, he had a .360 career batting average and
his teams amassed a 106-46 record. While playing, those
teams were SDIC Champions both in 1997 and 1998
seasons and Housley was a 1st Team All-SDIC Selection
his junior and senior years.
His coaching resume is as impressive. Housley’s fastpitch
softball teams have posted a record of 170-35-2 at
Benson, with two state titles in 2006 and 2008. He was
named the Arizona Coach of the Year three times and Region
Coach of the Year four times. He has twice coached
Briefly
t titus Kosgei qualified for the
national NAIA cross country meet and was
the first Mount Marty athlete to earn an appearance
in several years. Kosgei later won
the Men’s 1000 meter final at the Wayne
State pre-season indoor track opener in early
December.
t Fall Academic All-America recognition
was granted to Kate carda and anne
hanson from the volleyball team and Megan
o’Grady of the cross country team. The
three seniors earned the honor for the first
time in respect to their academic achievements
at the college.
t Volleyball captain, carly Benson,
was named GPAC Honorable Mention
All-Conference for her leadership and efforts
on the court. Benson finished the season
with 507 digs, nine ace serves and eight set
assists. Her 4.88 digs per game average was a
career best, giving her 1,454 digs in her three
seasons with the Lancers.
t The Mount Marty college track
and field team qualified three athletes in the
half-marathon for the NAIA Outdoor Track
and Field Championships to be held in May.
Women’s qualifiers included Jade Steinberg,
who finished 12th in 1:33:34; and Brooke
Mount Marty Update 18
Fischer, who finished 16th in 1:34:16. tyler
Smit qualified in the men’s race, finishing in
1:15:51.
t Mount Marty guard Michelle
amundson was the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America
Sports Women's Basketball Player-of-the-
Week for the week of Dec. 14. Amundson,
a senior from Dell Rapids, South Dakota,
scored 21 points on Saturday as then 8th
ranked Mount Marty defeated #18 Morningside
75-73 in Sioux City, Iowa. She made a
steal and converted a layup with five seconds
remaining to improve the Lancer women to
11-1 on the season. Amundson now has over
1300 points for her career (1,315).
t Since its beginning in 1999, Mount
Marty soccer has steadily improved, and this
year, several players were awarded for their
achievements with All-Conference honors.
lauren donlin was the first Mount Marty
women’s soccer player named to an All-
Conference team when she was selected for
the 2nd women’s team. derek otton was
selected as 1st team Keeper for men’s soccer,
and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. This
is the first year Mount Marty has ever had a
soccer player named as a player of the year at
the conference level.
On the season, the Lancer women finished
in the Arizona Coaches
Association All-Star
Game and has fourteen
players who have gone on
to play softball at the collegiate
level to his credit.
Housley has been very
active in the community
as well, volunteering for
the local community food
bank, the Gracie Haught
Foundation, and assisting
the formation of a charter
school to serve at risk
students. He is active in Shad Housely (C’98)
the church and is a volunteer
coach for a local basketball league.
“I am grateful and honored to have been considered and
selected for this award,” Housley said, “Coaching is a passion
for me as I know it is for most of us who wear the title
of coach.”
Housley and his wife, Rachel, have four children – Tye,
12; Haley, 9; Cole, 6; and Huntly, 18 months.
2-16 overall with a conference record of
0-12. The men finished 6-10-2 overall with a
conference record of 3-7-2. The two games
which ended in a tie were against Dakota
Wesleyan University and Concordia. They
are coached by Dan Hendricks.
t Despite losing four seniors from
last year, the Mount Marty women’s basketball
team held their momentum. Ranked
an impressive 15th in the nation at the start
of the season, they shared the polls with
other GPAC teams, including 2009 National
champions, Morningside College, which
was ranked #1. Non-conference openers
gave the women a great start as they posted
several wins and began setting team records.
But when they beat No. 6 Jamestown, No.
8 Bethel (Ind.) and No. 9 Black Hills State,
heads began to turn.
Then, on Dec. 12, they beat Morningside
College and entered new territory in the
rankings. In the Dec.14 poll, Mount Marty’s
women were ranked No. 7 with their season
record of 11-1, the highest national ranking
ever held by a Mount Marty women’s
basketball team.
At the most recent poll, they are in the top
20 national rankings. They are coached by
second-year head coach Tom Schlimgen.

Mount Marty Theatre Presents ‘The Bride of Brackenloch”
Cast members of
THE BRIDE OF
BRACKENLOCH put
on the moves in the
recent MMC Theatre
production. The show
was directed by Andy
Henrickson; Scenic
and Lighting Design
by Stephen English;
Costume Design by
Keryl Brady. Brady
received a Certificate
of Merit for her work
as part of the Kennedy
Center American
College Theatre
Festival (KCACTF)
and the costumes will
be presented at the
Region V festival in
Overland Park, KS.
Vespers
The Mount Marty College Music Department and the Benedictine
Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery presented a “Festival of Lessons and
Carols” at its annual Vespers celebration on Nov. 29 at 4:30 p.m. and
7:30 p.m. in the Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel. This year’s event featured
the Mount Marty choirs along with members of the South Dakota
Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Andrew Crane, a tenor from California.
In addition to the near-100 voice chorus and 44-piece orchestra, readers
from throughout the area included Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard;
Sister Madonna Schmitt; Avera Sacred Heart Hospital administrator
Pamela Rezac; Yankton Attorney Celia Miner; Yankton mayor Dan
Specht, Composer and Publisher Dan Goeller; Yankton Middle School
student Abby Schulte; Mount Marty theatre director Andy Henrickson;
Sioux Falls businessman David Xenakis, and Reverend Jeffery Loseke
of Holy Trinity Church in Hartington, Neb. Both performances filled
the chapel to capacity.
Mount Marty Update 19
Arts

Bishop Presides Over Opening Mass
The uniqueness of a Catholic education was celebrated
Thursday at Mount Marty College's Opening Mass at
Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel, Yankton.
Most Reverend Paul J. Swain, Bishop of the Diocese of
Sioux Falls, presided over the Mass and spoke of the role
of a Catholic education in fostering the formation of the
human person in his or her totality.
"Education is a complex task, especially among rapid
social, learning and cultural changes, but the integral
purpose is still the formation of the human person," Swain
said. "When we focus on the complexity we risk losing
what's central."
Swain urged the administration, faculty, staff and students
of Mount Marty College to remember the teachings of the
Mass's Gospel readings — Colossians 3:12-17, Psalm 105
and Luke 6:27-38.
"Colossians asks us to put love forth, not schmaltzy love,
but deep, sacrificial love," he said. "The reading from
Luke is full of sound bytes on how to live our lives — 'Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful.' and 'Do to others
as you would have them do to you.'"
Swain also asked the students of Mount Marty to
remember that their journey through higher education is a
privilege and not to squander opportunities to enrich their
own lives and the lives of others.
"It is a gift to be a part of a Catholic college. You have
a responsibility to take advantage of the privileges you
have here and use them well. Learn from respect and build
on the legacy of this institution to preserve the Catholic
Mount Marty College recently donated a surplus of used
computers. A total of 44 computers were donated to four
local area Catholic schools. The used Hewlett Packard
Compaq Business notebook series computers with integrated
wireless and wired network connectivity preloaded were
presented to Sacred Heart Elementary School of Yankton,
Holy Trinity Elementary of Hartington, Neb., St. Rose
School of Crofton, Neb., and East West Catholic Schools in
Nebraska.
Pictured — Back Row left to right: Regan Manning (Sacred
Heart Elementary), Chad Cattau (Holy Trinity), Scott
Becker (St. Rose), Mary Jean Klug (East West Catholic);
Students accepting laptops (L to R): Dillon Berger and Ava
Manning (SHS), Jada Cattau (HT), Ethan Poppe and Hailey
Arens (SR) and Lexie Heine and Malaya Heine (EWC);
Front from left: Dr. Derek Wesley, V.P. For Institutional Advancement;
Frank Tudor (sitting), IT Helpdesk Specialist;
and Mr. Robert Terishinski, Dean for Academic Affairs.
Bishop Paul J. Swain, Bishop
of the Dicese of Sioux Falls,
presided over the the Opening
Mass held September 10,
2009 at Bishop Marty Chapel.
Bishop Swain spoke of the
role of a Catholic education
in fostering the formation of
the human person in his or her
totality.
identity in word, action and witness," he said.
"Also learn to question and challenge, historically the
Catholic Church has encouraged the gift of reason for
the common good. Do all of this seasoned with the salt
of charity. Seek the common good in every decision you
make."
While the students learn, socialize and prepare for their
futures, Swain also asked the students to welcome the Holy
Spirit's role in their daily lives and prepare for eternity.
"Look beyond the moment, look to the eternal," he said.
"Allow yourself breathing space for the presence of the
Holy Spirit. Care about the salvation of souls — ourselves'
and others'."
Opening Mass is held each fall at Mount Marty College
to celebrate the opening of a new academic year.
Surplus Laptops Donated To Local Catholic Schools

Barb Peck, RN at Sacred Heart Monastery speaks to local media about prevention and treatment of the H1N1 flu following a campus
evacuation drill October 14, 2009.
Briefly
t Mount Marty welcomed six new
members to the Board of Trustees — Msgr.
James Doyle of Sioux Falls, retired priest for
the Diocese of Sioux Falls; Chad Ekroth of
Yankton, owner of CreditSoup Inc.; Peggy
Frank of Yankton; Robert Pulscher of Yankton;
Mike Healy of Yankton; and Jeff Wolfgram of
Yankton, VP & Manager of Dakota MAC at
First Dakota National Bank.
t Dr. Bill Cahoy was the keynote
speaker at the Benedictine Lecture held in October
in both Yankton and Watertown. Cahoy is
the dean of the School of Theology Seminary
at Saint John's University in Collegeville,
Minn. His speech was entitled, "The World in
Our Classroom — Globalization, Benedictine
Wisdom and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition."
t The Great Plains Writers’ Tour welcomed
Vivian Shipley to Mount Marty College
Oct. 14. Shipley is the Connecticut State University
Distinguished Professor and the editor
of “Connecticut Review” from Southern Connecticut
State University. She has published
seven books of poems and five chapbooks. She
won the 2006 Paterson Prize for Sustained Literary
Achievement and the 2006 Connecticut
Press Club Prize for Best Creative Writing.
The Great Plains Writers’ Tour will continue
at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in Marian Auditorium on the
Yankton campus with Kent Meyer presenting.
t Because of the concern of H1N1,
the Yankton campus held an evacuation drill
(see photo above) Oct. 14. All employees and
students were asked to congregate at Laddie E.
Cimpl Arena at the north end of the campus.
While entering each participant received a
bottle of hand santizer. While at Cimpl Arena,
Barb Peck, RN, gave a brief presentation about
H1N1 flu with an emphasis on prevention and
treatment.
t The Bill and Suzanne Stahl family of
Onida, S.D., was named the 2009 Family of the
Year. Bill and Suzanne are the parents of Joey
Stahl, a junior at Mount Marty College. Along
with Bill, Suzanne and Joey, Suzanne’s mother,
Jean Hertel, was also honored during Mount
Marty’s Blue & Gold Days Family Weekend in
November.
Bill is the current Sheriff of Sully County
and has been for 19 years. Suzanne is an RN.
She has been employed part-time at St. Mary’s
Healthcare in Pierre for 23 years. Jean is a
familiar face on the Mount Marty College
campus because she often makes the trip with
Bill and Suzanne to see Joey.
Bill and Suzanne have one son, Joey, who is
a junior forensic science/chemistry major and
criminal justice minor. He has been involved
with band for two semesters, choir for three
years and the college’s a cappella choir for
two years. He is currently serving as president
of the choir council. Joey is a member
of the Mount Marty College Democrats and
the forensic science/criminal justice club. He
has been involved with a few groups within
campus ministry such as being a member of the
men’s spirituality group, the leader of A.C.T.S.
and a Benedictine Oblate of Sacred Heart Monastery.
Joey has also participated in a Spring
Break Mission Trip to Texas his freshman year.
He was a member of S.W.A.T. (Sophomores
Working at Thriving), a select group of sophomores
chosen for their leadership and involvement
with the college. Joey currently serves
as a tutor at the Learning Center and has been
involved with ADMIT for two years. He is an
Family of the year (L to R): Bill Stahl,
grandmother Jean Hertel, Joey Stahl, and
Suzanne Stahl.
Ambassador for Mount Marty College and has
been involved with the Student Government
Association for two years, where he currently
serves as vice president.
t September was National Alcohol
and Drug Addiction Recovery Month with the
2009 theme: “Join the Voices for Recovery:
Together We Learn, Together We Heal.”
Students at Mount Marty joined Alexandra
Hoffman, former Miss South Dakota 2008,
and others in a community wide recovery
awareness campaign including presentations,
a recovery walk, and sharing of resources and
information.
Under the guidance of Lori Lincoln, Mount
Marty College Associate Professor of Social
Sciences, students placed crosses along the
route of the Recovery Walk. The crosses
revealed statistics related to recovery and
promoted awareness for the strength received
through prayer when facing life challenges.
Mount Marty Update 21

Mount Marty Update 22
2009 SHSN Tea
TOP LEFT: Sacred Heart School of Nursing Class of 1959 at the SHSN Tea, Sept. 12, 2009, at Avera Sacred Heart
Hospital. Back Row: Nancy Hooth Nelson, Rosemary Schneider Nett, Marlene Nielson Scandrett, Janice Joffer
Thompson, Yvette Pipal Rehurek, Bea Eutenuer Carey. Sitting: Shirley Cook Watke, Sharon Johnson Rempp, Rosemary
Bott Vogt and Lavonee Eggerling Sykora Gorsett.
TOP: SHSN Class of 1954’s
Elenore Wipf Siebert (left) and Betty Goebel
Drotzman (right).
RIGHT: Three alums from the 1940s met
up to reminisce. Pictured are Alice Billerbeck
Stevens (‘49), Alice Jensen Hoesing (‘48) and
Eva Stevens Buschkamp (‘44).
The Sacred Heart School of Nursing Tea was held
Sept. 12, 2009, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital.
Good times were had by all. A special ‘Thank
You’ to Alice Jensen Hoesing for her work
organizing the tea for the reunion class.

Mount Marty
Faculty
& Staff
achievements
natural Science division
chun wu
presented an oral
presentation at
the 2009 London
International
Conference
on Education
titled “Conveying the ‘Natural
Beauty’ of Chemistry.” She also
served as a session chair for
the session “Cross-disciplinary
areas of Education, Mathematics
Education, Geographical
education, Science Education.”
Uriel Buitrago
attended the
Collaboration
Conference on
“Bridging the
Generational
Divide” in
Minneapolis (Nov.). He will be
presenting a faculty workshop
in the spring on the material he
gathered from this conference.
He also currently has manuscripts
prepared for two publications.
The first is for the International
Journal of Morphology in Chile,
a manuscript on morphology
and phylogency of the group
Pseudoplatystoma (a catfish genus
from the neo-tropics). The second
is an essay on the anniversary of
Darwin which will be submitted
to a journal in Chicago that
publishes literary pieces related to
science.
Sister Bonita
Gacnik took
three students
to UNL to
participate in the
North Central
Regional ACM
Programming Contest. The
MMC team received Honorable
Mention for their effort. This is a
contest that provides an excellent
opportunity for the students to
apply classroom theory to ‘real
world’ problems. Her dissertation
was published this fall by
Lambert Academic Publishing
as a book titled “A Model in
Instructional Design for Online
Personal Enrichment Programs”.
She is constantly upgrading the
technology and delivery of her
courses and this year has obtained
a cyber (digital) tablet for use in
her dual credit classroom. This
tablet will be used as a smart
board to capture everything she
writes during the class and make it
available for students in Moodle.
Additionally, she has reworked
the assessment exam that is used
as a program assessment tool to
develop one that more accurately
assesses the math curriculum.
Stephanie
Gruver and
Sister Bonita
Gacnik have
reworked the
College Algebra
curriculum to
meet the SDSU requirements
to ease the transfer of credits
between the two schools.
natural Science division —
The Division has been asked to
partner with Sanford Underground
Laboratory Division of Education
and Outreach in a NASA grant
proposal. If the proposal is
funded, it will bring high school
physics, chemistry, and astronomy
teachers to MMC for a one week
earth science (middle school)
workshop followed by a one week
student camp during the summer
of 2010.
ongoing grants in the natural
Sciences — BRIN (chun wu
and will Mcroy), NPURC (Kris
dewitt), DOE (Kris dewitt)
— our faculty continue to do
research with undergraduate
students and outreach to high
school teachers through existing
grant opportunities.
arts and humanities
division
Sister Marielle
Frigge’s
textbook,
“Beginning
Biblical Studies”
was published
by Alselm
Academic, the college division of
Saint Mary’s Press in September
2009.
The latest book
by Jim reese,
“Ghost on Third”
was picked up
by the New York
Quarterly Books
and is expected
for release in January of 2010.
Other edited works he recently
completed include Paddlefish
2009 and 4PM Count 2009. His
works “Words on Poetry “ and
“So, This is Nebraska” were
published by Red Thread Gold
Thread: The Poet’s Voice in the
2009 edition edited by Alan
Cohen. Poetry scheduled or
already published includes “My
Daughter and Five and Free”
(Paterson Literary Review),
“My Five Year Old Daughter
Questions Death and Spatulas”
and others (South Dakota Poetry
Reader), “The Day Before You
Broke Your Arm on the Monkey
Bars,” (Caduceus, the Journal
for the Physicians of Yale
University), “The Keeper of All
Things Necessary and Whole,”
(Caduceus, the Journal for the
Physicians of Yale University);
and “Playing with Balloons,
Needles and Peas” and “As Seen
On TV” (Louisiana Literature
Review). Reese is also scheduled
to read at and/or conduct
workshops for Connecticut State
University; the P3 Invitational
at Washington Pavilion in Sioux
Falls, S.D.; and Folsom Prison
in association with the National
Endowment for the Arts and
the William James Association.
Over the past year, he presented
at Yankton High School, at the
John Milton Conference at the
University of South Dakota, as a
presenter at the 7th Annual South
Dakota Book Festival, and as
a presenter at the 44th Annual
Western Literature Association.
Janis hausmann
traveled to
Madison
High School
in Madison,
S.D., to give a
presentation on
how to write essays for college
applications and scholarships.
Her presentation was delivered to
four sections of English classes.
Hausman also gave a presentation
on the Dakota Writing Project
2009 Holocaust Institute and
the National Writing Project
conference in Philadelphia.
Currently david
Kahle has an oil
painting entitled
“Mandela” on
display at the
Washington
Pavilion P3
Painters and Poets Invitational
in Sioux Falls, S.D. Also, Kahle
received a $1200 Bush Grant for
Mount Marty College students to
create a three-day art workshop
in Mission, S.D. at Todd County
High School, Rosebud. The
fine arts project of painting and
drawings entitled “The Important
Lakota” was displayed at the
MMC Bede Art Gallery last fall.
Kahle submitted two works for the
Vermillion Literary Project (VLP)
through the English Department
at USD. The two works that
were accepted for publication
were “I Tried to Save You,”
Intaglio and “Lunar Month,”
Graphite. Kahle was also invited
to participate in the USD Art
Alumni Exhibition Main Gallery
in November. He exhibited a
large oil painting entitled “A
Beautifully Destroyed Annex.”
In December, Kahle presented
an art exposition entitled “The
Sun and Other Realities” at The
President’s Gallery at Northern
State University in Aberdeen,
S.D. A series of 25 oil paintings
will be displayed through January
22. Kahle also created sculpture,
ceramics, casein paintings and oil
paintings at an exposition at the
G.A.R. Hall in Yankton, S.D. last
fall entitled “Aokiya – To Bring
Together with Peace.”
rich lofthus
was a guest
presenter at
Dakota Wesleyan
University for
their Noon Forum
in October.
He presented his “Over Here,
Over there” World War I letters
program.
Sean Vogt
served as Guest
Conductor for
the Niobrara
Valley Choral
Conference which
featured 150
high school students from 10
different schools. He also was
Guest Conductor for the Mid-
State Valley Choral Festival
where 200 students from seven
schools participated. In addition
he has provided services for two
memorial services in Sioux Falls
and has been guest organist.
Vogt’s choral experience at Mount
Marty also yielded an unexpected
national appearance as the CBS
network selected an assortment
of performances from St. Joseph
Cathedral in Sioux Falls to feature
on Christmas Eve. Among the
performances selected for the
program was the selection “Thy
Will Be Done” performed with the
Mount Marty Choir. The Mount
Marty Choral group “Smooth
Benediction” made it to the
quarterfinals of the International
Championship of Collegiate A
capella. Dr. Vogt compares this
level of competition to the “March
Madness” associated with college
basketball. Vocalists included
Micaela Rausch, Heidi Swanke,
Anna Bronemann, Alexis Perry,
Chrystal Oberg, Gina Emanuel,
Bethany Bakker, Jordan Foos,
Joey Stahl, Isaac Beeck, Tyler
Mount Marty Update 23
Faculty notes

Faculty notes
Vela, Patrick Heisterkamp, Vince
Humble and Kalib Herren.
andy
henrickson has
been selected
to direct “My
Fair Lady” for
the Lewis &
Clark Theatre
Company this summer. As a
ACTF respondent and regional
selection team member, he also
visited Dordt’s production of
“The Caucasian Chalk Circle,”
the University of Nebraska
at Kearney’s production of
“Pseudolus,” and Doane College’s
production of “Evil Dead the
Musical.” He has judged oral
interpretation local contests at
Freeman and Wagner, the district
contest in Mitchell and regional
contest in Chamberlain. He is also
scheduled to judge the state oral
interpretation festival in Sioux
Falls. He was also the contest
director for the Mount Marty
Oral Interpretation Contest in
December.
Joshua thurow attended a
two-week workshop on the
cognitive science of religion at
Christ Church College in Oxford
University. He later received a
grant form the Cognition, Religion
and theology project at Oxford
University to do research on the
philosophical implications of
the cognitive science of religion.
Thurow read a paper at the
Western Division Meeting of the
Society of Christian Philosophers
at Fort Lewis College in Durango
Colo. The title was “Does
Cognitive Science Show Belief
in God to Be Irrational? The
Epistemic Implications of the
Cognitive Science of Religion.”
Thurow also had a paper accepted
for publication in Philosophical
Studies titled “The a Priori
Defended: A Defense of the
Generality Argument.” Another
paper is under review at Oxford
University Press titled “Does
Religious Disagreement Actually
Aid the Case for Theism?”
nelson Stone did
a presentation
on the role of
Classical Greek
thinking on the
development
of western
thought for the Springfield (S.D.)
Historical Society. He is also
working Biblical Studies classes
for a group of medical doctors
from the Avera Health Care
system.
Mount Marty Update 24
Sister cynthia
Binder developed
a film series at the
Yankton Federal
Prison Camp as
part of the history
of film class there.
Students prepare
and research the films they show
and are expected to introduce the
film including information on the
director, the history and cultural
aspects. They then conduct a
discussion following the film.
Georgia talsma
judged district
and regional oral
interpretation
contest and
attended the state
speech convention.
In addition, she will be judging
at the State Oral Interpretation
Festival and she assisted with the
Mount Marty Oral Interpretation
Contest.
An animated
production created
by Shane Miner
was accepted for
the South Dakota
Governor’s Art
Show and will
be featured as part of a traveling
exhibit scheduled for six South
Dakota cities. The piece, titled
“Morning” is based on a poem by
Billy Collins, who also recites the
piece in the production.
Jamie Sullivan
had his paper
“Border
Crossings in Tom
McCarthy’s The
Visitor” accepted
for presentation
at the West Virginia University
Thirty-Third Colloquium on
Literature and Film held Oct.8–10
in Morgantown, W.Va.
nursing division
Sister corinne
lemmer is
leading the
nursing faculty
curriculum
committee in the
development of a
Senior capstone.
Cross-referencing the nursing
curriculum with national
recommendations has been
ongoing work over the past 9
months. Sister Corinne is also
working on a qualititave nursing
research study titled “Delivering
Culturally-sensitive Care to
Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Women
during the Childbearing Year”.
Jenny McGinnis
has initiated
her Master’s
in Nursing
studies at Briar
Cliff College.
She is taking the Family Nurse
Practitioner Track. Jenny also
attended the “Transforming
Care at the Bedside” conference
sponsored by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation this past
summer. She is also a research
assistant with the University of
South Dakota School of Medicine.
Shelly luger
recently
graduated with
her MSN from
Indiana State
University. She
attended an
immersion study in Evidencebased
Practice at Arizona State
University in Phoenix. This was
supported through the Bush
Research grant. Shelly’s research
includes a study on Asthma in
children.
Gayle webert
recently completed
her MSN degree
from South
Dakota State
University. Her
qualitative study
was conducted with women who
have been sexually abused and
was titled “The Lived Experience
of Women Domestic Violence
Survivors.”
Sandra isburg
was recently
selected by her
peers to attend
the International
Sigma Theta
Tau conference
in Indianapolis, Ind. Sandi is the
Vice President of the Mount Marty
Nursing Chapter of Sigma Theta
Tau.
Sister esther
holzbauer
recently
taught medical
terminology by
teleconference to
the Wagner Indian
Health Service.
In collaboration with Ihanktonwan
College of Marty, eight students
are completing the course and
have determined nursing as their
future career.
Bill Mains has been a leader in
preparing our nursing students
for care of H1N1 patients. Bill
planned and delivered a Fit
Testing lab for the students and
prepared them with a required
respiratory mask for use during
patient care.
Sister Kathryn
Burt was named
our Faculty
Champion of
Genetics as she
was chosen by
AACN (American
Association of Colleges of
Nursing) to attend a two-day
conference on Genetics in
Washington, DC. This event was
co-sponsored by the American
Cancer Society in response to
preparing our nursing students in
the essential criteria of exploring
the genetic contributions to cancer
with their patients.
education division
South Dakota Teacher of the
Year, Paul Kuhlman, gave a
presentation to Mount Marty
student teachers.
nick Shudak
submitted an
article “Diversity’s
Double Helix”
to the journal
Academic
Questions, which
is the journal for the National
Association of Scholars. The
article has been accepted with
revisions, and is set for the Fall
2010 issue.
Student teachers visited ESL
classrooms in Sioux City on Nov.
20.
education club is participating
with the state SDEA – Student
Program in a grant to establish
Future Teachers of America club
at YHS/YMS and possibly other
area schools
teacher education department
was awarded a Sacred Heart
Monastery Council grant to
purchase a SMART Board to be
used primarily in Nick Shudak’s
EDN 376 Integrating Technology
into Teaching & Learning course
Education faculty have received
positive comments about MMc
student teachers this fall, in
Yankton and Vermillion in
particular, they are upholding the
MMC Teacher Education Program
reputation! A number of MMC
alum continue to host student
teachers.

Mount Marty
high School
Fifties
Frances (Klimisch) Schutt ’55
and husband Arthur live in Utica,
S.D. They celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary on June 2,
2009.
Betty (Schramm ’57) walker
and husband Dave live in Mission
Hill, S.D. They celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary on
Aug. 9, 2009.
Joan (weier) arp ‘59 and
husband David live in Omaha,
Neb. Joan has been involved in a
variety of positions over the years
including working at the Yankton
Press and Dakotan, restaurant
hostess, and assistant manager at
a small drug store. Most of her
work has been in the clerical and
support positions. She retired
in 2003 from Lincoln Financial
Insurance. Joan and David
celebrated their 47th wedding
anniversary in September 2009.
Geralda (Becker) Backman
’59 and husband Marcel live
in Wynot, Neb. They farmed
until 1984 when Marcel started
his crop insurance business and
Geralda worked at the Cedar
Security Bank until 2006 when
she retired. She works part
time at the local school. They
celebrated their 48th wedding
anniversary in June 2009.
Karen (Salvatori) Becvar ’59,
Sn’62 and husband Lawrence
live in North Platte, Neb. Karen
has worked in surgery and briefly
in home health. Presently, she is
PRN in surgery. Her husband is a
PRN histologic technician.
Sally (Burbach) Beste ’59 and
husband LeRoy live on a farm
in Wynot, Neb., but have retired
from farming. Sally worked at
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in
housekeeping for two years and then
as a messenger, this last position is
now part-time. She and her husband
enjoy motorcycle riding.
Katherine (halter) carda ’59,
Sn’62 and husband Larry live
in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Katherine
worked at nursing positions in
Ohio and Missouri. Many of her
nursing years were spent in OB
and teaching childbirth classes
and natural family planning.
Larry worked in various positions
in the Job Corps.
Jan (robbennolt) Fitzgerald ’59
and husband Robert live in Ethan,
S.D. Jan worked as a bookkeeper
in Pierre. After raising her family,
she worked in several schools
from 1970-1994 and then retired
in 1994 when she and Robert
moved back to Ethan.
edwyna (topf) Fuelberth
’59 and husband Donald live
in Hartington, Neb. After
graduation, Edwyna worked
for a dentist. She and Don were
married in 1960 and farmed. They
celebrated their 49th wedding
anniversary in August 2009. She
is a member of the Help Your
Neighbor Club.
Mary Kay (hoebelheinrich)
Goeden ’59, c’62 lives in
Tujunga, Calif. Mary Kay
taught school four years and
later became a registered nurse,
working at The City of Hope
for 14 years. She is involved in
various volunteer activities.
Florence (adam) halls ’59 and
husband Kenneth live in Hot
Springs, S.D. Florence earned
her associate degree from Black
Hills State and worked for the
Community Health Nursing
office in Fall River County. She
is disabled now as a result of
advanced diabetes. Kenneth is
retired.
helen (Schuch) harmuth ’59
lives in Aurora, Colo. Helen
worked at the Pierre Insurance
Department for the State of
South Dakota. From 1966-
2008, she worked in various
clerical positions and sales
associate for A.R. Wilfley &
Sons Manufacturing until her
retirement.
Frances (Biegelmeier)
lowenstein ’59 and husband
Joe live in Washington, D.C.
Fran is an attorney in the U.S.
Department of Labor, working in
employment law.
elizabeth (Matuszewicz)
Jensen ’59 lives in Poteau,
Okla. Elizabeth is widowed.
She worked at Landmann-
Jungman Memorial Hospital
in Scotland, S.D. Elizabeth is
active in her church as greeter,
reader and Eucharistic minister.
She has taught CCD classes for
many years and served as CCD
coordinator.
Mary ann (drotzmann) Kathol
’59 lives in Yankton, S.D. She
is Direct Support Supervisor
at Ability Building Service in
Yankton. Her husband Mark died
in 2004.
Mary (hanten) Kleinschmit
’59 Sn’62 and husband Leon
live in Omaha, Neb. For the last
35 years, Mary has worked at
Alegent Health Bergen Mercy —
fifteen of those years as Charge
Nurse on the Diabetic Unit.
She is now semi-retired. Leon
owns his own business, Millard
Electronics.
darlene (rezac) Kolda ’59 and
husband Robert live in Yankton.
Darlene entered the work force
when her children started
elementary school. She worked
at JC Penney for 27 years and
retired two years ago. Darlene
is involved in various volunteer
activities.Robert is retired.
charlotte (Shreve) lema ’59
and husband Fred live in Newman
Calif. Charlotte is retired from
Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory. Fred is retired.
Shirley (Schulz) Mccloud ’59,
Sn’62 and husband Darrell live
in Yankton.They will celebrate
their 25th wedding anniversary
in January 2010. Shirley recently
retired as a surgical RN after
42-plus years at Avera Sacred
Heart Hospital. Shirley has been
involved in volunteer work over
the years.
carol (hochstein) Paltz ’59 and
husband Arland live in St. Helena,
Neb. Since graduation, she has
worked in various businesses in
Yankton and is presently working
at Wal-Mart. Carol is involved
as a volunteer in her church.
Arland is no longer farming and is
involved in construction work.
diane (dendinger) Peterson ’59,
c’63 and husband John live on a
farm near Wakonda, S.D. Diane
taught school and is now working
for Ability Building Services in
Yankton, where she assists people
with disabilities.
leah (heimes) Smith ’59,
c’63, lives in Yankton. She and
husband Joe, who died in 2005,
lived in several cities before
settling in Yankton in 1975. Leah
worked in the field of nursing
since graduation. Her last years
in nursing before retiring were at
Members of the Mount Marty High School Class of ‘68 reunited at the President’s house last summer. Pictured are from
left Front row: Marsha (Haley) Conner, Pat (Kessler) Sprouse, Ann (Kessler) McDonald, Sr. Martin Mergen, Carol (Petrik)
Gregg. Second Row: Joyce (Loecker) Sestak, Bonnie (Wiepen) Kohles, Carlin (Suing)Yonke, Ruth (Hejl) Giedd, Linda (Leise)
Hochstein, Colleen (Cimpl) Chase, Pat Hohenthaner, Linda (Allen) Hanisch, Lee (Lemon) Barkley 3rd Row:Gerri Wuebben/
Kotalik, Sr. Madonna Schmitt, Dion (Heine) Karras, Mary (Kotalik) Boyer, Marilyn (Coughlin) Hoversten, Kaye (Dendinger)
Myers, Deanna (Saffel) Nelson, Carolyn (Kollars) Leader.
class notes

class notes
the South Dakota Human Services
Center as infection control
nurse, she then worked at Avera
Sacred Heart Hospital as hospice
volunteer coordinator.
Jeann (hochstein) Sudbeck
’59, Sn’62 lives in Omaha, Neb.
JeAnn is widowed and works in a
family business.
Genevieve (Goetz) Price-taevs,
’59, Sn 62 and husband William
live in Prescott, Wis. She has
worked as a nurse in various
parts of the country. Dennis, her
first husband, died in 1991. In
1993, she went to Dhahran, Saudi
Arabia to give IV sedation for
three oral surgeons. There she
met her present husband. They
now travel extensively. Genevieve
is presently helping to launch
Prescott’s one-acre community
garden. William is a retired
engineer and now drives a school
bus.
Kathy (hintgen) thome
’59 and husband Dean live in
Milwaukee,Wis. Kathy has
taught, is a church organist, choir
director and piano performer
and accompanist. Kathy does
volunteer work and enjoys
knitting.
Karel (Klimisch) toohey
’59 and husband John live
in Albuquerque, Neb. After
graduating from Duchesne
College, Omaha, Neb., Karel
joined the Lay Extension
Volunteer organization. She has
taught for many years and her
last teaching experience was
working with mentally disabled
students. She and her husband
have traveled extensively and
enjoy their grandchildren. John is
retired.
charlotte (haan) VanBuskirk
’59, Sn’62 and husband David
live in Corsicana, Texas. Charlotte
is retired from Cedar Lake Home
Health & Hospice where she was
involved with in-services and was
QA Coordinator.
eileen (Mueller) witkowski
’59, c’66 and husband John
live in Wayne, Neb. Eileen has
worked in various cities as a
nurse and nurse educator. She has
traveled all over the world and
did missionary work in Belize and
India. John is retired.
Sixties
Mary Pat (dendinger) Guier
’63 lives in Omaha, Neb. She is
a social service worker for the
Mount Marty Update 26
Submitted Photo
Sister Debra Kolecka, Susan (McKiernan) Johnson, Doreen( Ziska) Leffelholz,
Colleen “Lena” (Schaefers) Leer enjoy catching up during a Class of 1977 reunion
held May 2009 at Yesterday’s Cafe in Yankton, S.D.
Nebraska Department of Health
and Human Services.
Sixties
diane (hobelheinrich)
rasmussen ’63 and husband
Cordy live in Yankton. On Oct.
24, 2009, they celebrated their
45th wedding anniversary.
connie (christenson) luke ’67
and husband Ray live in Sioux
Falls. They celebrated their 40th
wedding anniversary on June 2,
2009.
Mount Marty
college
Forties
Sister Mary Jane Gaspar
’46-47 celebrated 60 years as a
Presentation Sister in Aberdeen
this past summer. Sister Mary
Jane lives in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Sixties
Mary ann (Kohles) wortmann
’64 was recently elected president
of the Nebraska Association of
Resources Districts (NARD)
Board at their annual conference
in Kearney, Neb.
Kathryn “Kitty” (o’leary)
higgins hS’65, c’65-67 has left
the National Transportation Safety
Board and is starting her own
public policy consulting business
to assist business, non-profit and
government clients.
Mary lou (duenwald) Keller
’66 and husband Bob live in
Hoven, S.D. They celebrated
their 40th anniversary June 21,
2009.
Sister Margo tschetter hS’63,
c’68 received the South Dakota
D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association
Educator of the Year Award
during the Drug Abuse and
Resistance Education graduation
ceremony at Sacred Heart Middle
School, Yankton. Sister Margo
has taught fifth grade at Sacred
Heart for 31 years.
Seventies
Sister candyce chrystal c’73
recently received the “Friend
of Education” Award from the
Yankton Middle School. The
award was in recognition of her
work with the Mount Marty
College students in a tutoring
program for the students at the
Middle School.
Mary h. McMahon ’76 was
one of six registered nurses,
out of 284 nominees, to receive
the 2009 Colorado Nightingale
Award. Mary worked in the area
of perinatal nursing for most of
her 33-year career and a director
of nursing for the last 12 years.
She has been elected 2010-2011
National Secretary Treasurer
for the Association of Women’s
Health Obstetrics and Neonatal
Nurses. Mary has started a new
career as a practice consultant
with the Clinical Practice Model
Resource Center, an Elsevier
Company. Mary lives with her
husband, Ryan Butner in Parker,
Colo. They have two children,
Matt, 28, and Erin, 24.
deborah (raynie) Pravecek
’73 and husband Max live in the
Freeman, S.D. area. Deb recently
retired from South Dakota State
University after 35 years of
service. During her time at SDSU,
she completely restructured
the clinical laboratory science
program. Deb also managed the
clinical lab in student health
services and coordinated labs for
chemistry instruction. In 2007,
she was named Member of the
Year for the state society of the
American Society for Clinical
Laboratory Science.
tim ’77 and theresa
(Schneider ’77) eixenberger
live in Clearwater, Fla. Tim just
graduated from Case Western
in Cleveland with a doctorate
in Nursing Practice. Both he
and their son received their
doctorates at the same time. Tim
is vice president of Patient Care
at Bayfront Medical Center, St.

Petersburg, Fla., and Theresa is
a labor and delivery nurse at St.
Joseph’s in Tampa, Fla.
cynthia (Palmer) christiansen
’77 and husband Randy live in
Sioux City, Iowa. Cynthia works
at St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux
City as a Med-Surg float 11-7
shift. Their three grandchildren,
who live close by, keep her and
her husband busy.
eighties
James ’81 and Suzanne (reisch)
dufek ’81, ’84 celebrated their
25th wedding anniversary Dec.
29, 2009.
Jolene (Schwarz) Buehrer
’82 was named 2008-2009
Distinguished Teacher at Bowling
Green State University, Firelands
campus following the school year.
Jolene received her Ph.D. from
the University of South Dakota
and became a full-time lecturer
in English in the Department
of Humanities. Jolene has
extensive teaching and curriculum
development experience, with
a special interest in Native
American Literature. Some of
the criteria for choosing faculty
for the award include scholarly
knowledge of the subject
matter, careful organization and
preparation for courses and an
ability to generate enthusiasm for
the field, and demonstrated ability
to stimulate the intellect of the
students.
nancy werner ’83 was recently
appointed the first woman
chancellor of the Archdiocese of
St. Louis, Mo. Nancy has spent
more than 26 years in parish and
diocesan ministry in the Catholic
Church. Nancy will be working
with Archbishop Carlton Carlson.
Julie hartmann ’84 lives in
Sioux Falls, S.D. and is principal
of the new R.F. Pettigrew
Elementary School in Sioux Falls.
She is presently working on her
doctorate through the University
of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.
charles “chuck” Stastny
’87 and wife Margaret live
in Jamestown, N.D. Chuck is
principal at St. John’s Academy in
Jamestown. He has completed his
Educational Specialist Graduate
degree from the University of
South Dakota with an emphasis
on Pre-K-12. He is now working
on his doctorate in education. He
and Margaret have two children,
Mary Elizabeth and Joseph John.
dorene adams winckler c’89
and husband Craig lost their home
in a fire on Christmas night in
Scotland, SD. Dorene and Craig
have four children, Grant (16),
Logan (15), Katie (12) and Nora
(6). They all escaped their home
in the middle of a blizzard with
only the clothes on their backs.
nineties
Becky (Kotrous) heisinger
’90 lives in Sioux Falls with
husband Steve and two children:
James (9) and Abby (6). Becky
received her Master’s in Business
Administration from the
University of Sioux Falls in May
2009 and is employed at Avera
Submitted Photo
Alumni from the 70’s caught up at a reunion held on
the 4th of July in Elm Gove, WI. Pictured from left:
Nora (Grady) Ladewig, Mary Kay (Hand) Durnin, Suzy
(Hand) Foster, Nan (Grady) Kiel, and Tess (Curtis)
Fadden.
Health as a grant finance manager.
tessina (olerich) Strunk ‘92
lives in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Tess is employed by Metropolitan
Mortgage as their chief financial
analyst. Her main focus is
forensic accounting and generally
works for court appointed
receiverships to recover assets/
money for creditors. She earned
her Master’s in Accountancy from
Gonzaga University in May 2009.
Marti (holeman) Vocke c’93
and husband Adam live in Fort
Morgan, Colo. Marti is the
marketing director with Graff’s
Turf Farm. Her work was featured
recently in the Yankton Press and
Dakotan. Marti started working
for the company in September of
2005. Under the marketing plan
she created, Graff has provided
turf for several stadiums including
Invesco Field, Coors Field, Busch
Stadium, Notre Dame Stadium
and the Minnesota Twins new
field, Target Field. She and Adam
have two children, Harley (4) and
Brinley (1).
theresa (Sladky) delahoyde
’97 received her doctorate in
Education in July from the
College of St. Mary, Omaha, Neb.
Theresa is an Associate Professor
of Nursing at BryantLGH College
of Health Sciences in Lincoln,
Neb. She and husband Aaron have
three children: Robert (10), David
(8) and Dominic (4). They reside
in Waverly, Neb.
Jill (Schmaderer) orton ’99,
her husband Doug and two
children live in Blair, Neb.
Jill is the American Red Cross
Preparedness, Health and Safety
Director of Heartland Chapter
in Omaha. Jill recently spent a
month in Taiwan as one of five
young professionals sent by the
Nebraska/Southwest Iowa Rotary
International to Taiwan for the
2009 Group Study Exchange.
According to her, the trip was a
great adventure and a
life-changing experience.
Stephanie wilson ’99 lives
in Sioux Falls, S.D. where she
is principal at Christ the King
Catholic School.
Matthew hayes ’99 and wife,
Meredith live in Rochester, Minn.
Matt graduated from the South
Dakota School of Medicine and
completed his radiology residency
and radiology fellowship at
Mayo Clinic. He is a radiologist
at Winona, Minn. Meredith is a
radiology resident at Mayo Clinic.
two thousand
wendy landmark ’01 lives in
Watertown, S.D. She is a scheduler
for the Sanford Clinic in Watertown.
chris Gubbrud ’02 is
teaching history and American
Government at Thomas Jefferson
High in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Chris is also the JV basketball
coach.
Vicky (walloch) Fryda ’03
and her husband Steve live on
a farm near Lesterville, S.D.
Vicky received her Master of
Science Degree in middle school
education with a mathematics
specialization from Walden
University in May of 2009.
Vicky teaches middle school and
high school math and science
for the Scotland School District,
Scotland, S.D. Vicky and Steve
have two children: Grace (6) and
Kade (4).
Parry davison ’03 lives in
Kemmerer, Wyo. She is a Nurse
Anesthetist at South Lincoln
Medical Center in Kemmerer.
deacon roger heidt ‘04 and
his wife Diane live in Sioux
Falls. Roger celebrated the 25th
anniversary of ordination to the
diaconate on September 8, 1948.
He was ordained by Bishop
Harold J. Dimmerling in Sturgis,
S.D.
robert ’04 and linda
(Beckmann ’04) Jackson live in
Crofton, Neb. Linda works as a
RN at Avera Yankton Care Center.
Robert works for Pioneer Sales
and Farming Sales.
Jessica (Krull) Gadeken ’05
and husband Christopher live in
Yankton. Jessica and Christopher
were married Oct. 25, 2008.
Jessica has her master’s in
professional accounting from
the University of South Dakota,
Vermillion, and is working as
an accountant for Wohlenberg,
Ritzman & Co., LLC, Yankton.
Chris is a Civil Technician
at Eisenbraun & Associates.,
Yankton.
andrew ’04 and Katie
(cameron’06) rokusek live and
work in Sioux Falls, S.D. Katie
is a RN at the Avera McKennan
Women’s Center. Andrew is a
financial advisor for Mutual of
Omaha. They have two daughters:
Ayla (3) and Macy (18 months).
Mount Marty Update 27
class notes

class notes
daniel lewison ’07 and his wife
Debbie live in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dan finished his clinical in Nurse
Anesthesia in April of 2007 and
is a Nurse Anesthetist at Sanford
Health. They have three children:
Kaitlyn (6), Aaron (5), and
Hannah (2). They are expecting
another child in April.
Kenneth Spader ’08 lives in St.
Paul, Neb. He is a K-8 special
education teacher at Elba, Neb.,
and is assistant coach for various
sports.
Sister Katharina Mtitu, oSB,
’08 made her final profession
as a Benedictine on July 25,
2009. Sister Katharina resides in
Peramiho, Tanzania, East Africa
and teaches in their secondary and
high school.
Karle Jacobs’08 lives in Sioux
Falls, S.D. She works for First
Bank & Trust.
Marriages
amy Vavruska c’05 and robert
Keppen c’04, June 13, 2009.
rebecca loutsch c’06 and
Nolan Peterson, June 20, 2009.
carmen l. Soulek c’ 09 and
Steven J. anthony c’05, July 4,
2009.
Matthew hayes c’99 and
Meredith Anderson, July 22,
2009.
rebecca c. Brugman c’09 and
Jacob Geneski, July 25, 2009.
Mike Mitchell c’86 and Tammy
Carpenter, Aug. 7, 2009.
Jodi Stemper c’05 and Joey
Cap, Aug. 8, 2009.
Olivia Mae Flemings Buell,
daughter of Thomas Buell and
Jennifer Flemings (C’05).
Submitted Photo
Rebecca Loutsch C’06 and Nolan Peterson were united
in marriage June 20, 2009.
Births
Mark and Karla (odens c’01)
Bovill, a son, Andrew William,
born Jan. 29, 2009, joining Owen
(4) and Ethan (2).
Greg c’03 and Beth (Mollman
c’02, c’08) Kathol, a daughter,
Lainey Carol, born June 26, 2009,
joining Margaret and Blaise.
David and amy (Brockman
c’01) rydberg, a son, Dillan
Henry, born June 29, 2009,
joining sister, Hailey (3).
Mark c’97 and Mary
(woodrasksa c’98) Gerwer,
a daughter, Rachel Marie, born
July 9, 2009, joining Phillip (11),
Andrew (10) and Kathryn (8).
Scott and tanya (wulf c’99)
Babel, a daughter, September
Kay, born Aug. 12, 2009.
Stephani and Scott c’95
Geerdes, a son, Preston Scott,
born July 24, 2009, joining
brothers Tyson (7) and Ethan (3).
Gerry and Kara (Gittings ’96)
Moriarty, a son, Garrett John,
born Oct. 30, 2009, joining
Joseph (6) and Margaret (3).
Karl and Kelley (Keller c’95-97)
oehlke, a son, Kade Kenneth,
born Oct. 4, 2009, joining sister,
Klaire.
Thomas Buell and Jennifer
Flemings c’05, a daughter,
Olivia Mae Flemings Buell, born
Oct. 15, 2009.
Sarah and John “J.c.” neilson
c’00, a daughter, Adara Rose,
born Oct. 7, 2009, joining Josiah
(2).
Dave and Mary Fran (honner
c’93) Bitterman, a son, Andrew
David, born Nov. 30, 2009.
Jessica Peck c’05 and Garrett
Cameron, a son, Kolden James
Cameron, born Nov. 23, 2009.
Sympathy
adeline (westre) hamilton
Sn’47 on the death of her
husband and Patricia hamilton
c’72 on the death of her father,
Lowell Hamilton.
John Slemp c’95 on the death of
his father, Martin Slemp.
agnes “aggie” heine c’72 on
the death of her mother, Louise
Sandhoff.
rosemary Sees hS’61, c’63 on
the death of her mother, Josephine
Andersen.
Patrick Bohlmann c’92 on
the death of his mother, Mary
Bohlmann.
Faye (Battin) Schorn hS’66 on
the death of her mother, Betty
Donovan.
dolores (thoene) Kaiser hS’47,
c’48 on the death of her husband
and cheryl Moe c’79 on the
death of her father, Lawrence
Kaiser.
agnes (Varilek) horacek Sn’50,
on the death of her. husband,
George Horacek.
Gary leclair c’87 on the death
of his father, Bill LeClair.
Janet wuebben c’81 on the
death of her mother, Laura
Schreiner.
Shirley Kast hS ‘63 on the death
of her father, Sylvester Schaefer.
Susan (rogers c’05) anderson
and husband Isaac on the death of
their newborn, Megan Marie.
Mary Kay (hoebelheinrich)
Goeden hS’59, c’62 on the
death of her husband, Omer
Goeden.
Jean (Schoeberl) Skaff c’63-
65 on the death of her, husband
Robert Skaff.
James thorson, coaching staff,
on the death of his father, Albert
G. Thorson.
colleen (ellis) Schmaltz c’69
on the death of her husband,
Wendlen Schmaltz.
connie Kaiser Sn’64 on the
death of her mother, Ursula
Kathol.

catherine Brandner c’76 and
clara waterbury c’77 on the
death of their mother, Margaret
Koenig.
donna huff hS’69 on the death
of her mother, Angeline Guenther.
traci cwach c’05 and Kelli
taggart c’07 on the death of
their father, Bob Taggart.
cathleen (Becker) huchtmeier
hS’58 on the death of her
husband, Dean Hutchtmeier.
Phyllis (lammers) thoene
hS’51 on the death of her
husband and carol ryan c’80
on the death of her father, Marcus
Thoene.
darlene lucas hS’58 on the
death of her mother, Rose Thoene.
Stella (Miller) colwell Sn’49 on
the death of her husband, Dean
Colwell.
Mary Foth c’73 and Beth
Steenholdt c’81 on the death of
their father, Francis Gengler.
christine lien c’87 on the death
of her mother, Evelyn McCarty.
tom Schlimgen, coaching
staff, on the death of his mother,
Florentine Schlimgen.
therese (Zimmerman) Fejfar
c’52 on the death of her husband,
James Fejfar.
Marion (thompson) Koletzky
c’40 on the death of her husband,
Clarence Koletzky.
Mary ann King c’74 on the death
of her mother, Frances Tacke.
robert Kathol, trustee, on the
death of his mother, Clara Kathol.
Jo ann holonbek c’68 on the
death of her mother, Josephine
Holonbek.
donna Soulek c’92 on the death
of her father, Delbert Bitterman.
Joselyn Flynn hS’55, c’66,
Sharon wieseler hS’ 61, Julie
reynolds hS’65, c’70 and del
rae heine hS’67, on the death
of their mother, Leone Leise.
Mary Jane (nystrom) Straub
hS’48 on the death of her
husband, Oscar Straub.
In Loving
Memory
Sister theodore Jensen, rSM,
Sa’ 53, Jan. 25, 2009.
Marcella Kollars eisenhauer,
c’40, June 30, 2009.
Sister Grace Kowalski, oSB,
c’63-64, July 1, 2009.
carol Schmitt Bennett-dorsey,
hS’52, Aug. 2, 2009.
dorothy rysavy, former food
service, Aug. 28, 2009.
Joann harty, hS’58, Sept. 20,
2009.
lloyd Johansen, former
maintenance, Sept. 16, 2009.
Sister Sylveria weiand, oSB,
c’67, Sept. 23, 2009.
helen Burke Mccaig, former
faculty, Sept. 23, 2009.
Shirley Eastman Lefler, SN’46,
Oct. 8, 2009.
Sister denise Stevens, oSB,
c’44, former Mount Marty
librarian, Oct. 16, 2009
Sister Jacqueline Fox, oSB,
hS’49, Sn’53, former Sn
instructor, Oct. 23, 2009.
norma e. Mueller, c’63-66,
Nov. 11, 2009.
Mary Kneifl Wellenstein, HS’
64, Nov. 16, 2009.
Barbara Kadinger c’68-’79,
Dec. 5, 2009.
Flora auch lebahn, c’70,
December 29, 2009.
loretta huetson Johnson,
hS’31, December 31, 2009.
Sister cordula walker, oSB,
former housekeeping supervisor,
January 5, 2010.
Mary leone Schramm hS’51,
c’58, January 6, 2010.
Patricia withers lewison,
Sn’61, January 8, 2010.
Monastery
Jubilarians
eighty years
Sister dechantal Garcia,
hS’28, c’59
Seventy-Five years
Sister Verena Kaiser, hS’31,
c’41-42
Sixty years
Sister angeline Keating, hS’48,
c’57
Sister Kevin irwin, hS’47, c’54
Sister Bennett Fasbender,
hS’47, c’62
Sister aurea Medina, Sn’52,
c’77
Fifty years
Sister Paulette larsen, Sn’62,
c’73
Sister Kathleen hickenbotham,
c’68
Sister rosina Schock, hS’58,
c’70
twenty-Five years
Sister Jodelle Zimmerman,
c’03
We Want To Share Your
Story!
Send Items For Class
Notes to:
Alumni Office, 1105 W. 8th St.,
Yankton, S.D. 57078
or ctudor@mtmc.edu
Mount Marty Update 29
class notes

The Alumni Office needs your help finding these missing classmates! If
you know them, ask them to contact us so they don’t miss out on any more
Mount Marty news and events.
Missing Graduates from the MMc class of 1960
If you have any information of the whereabouts of these lost alums, please
contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 605-668-1542.
Mount Marty Update 30
Mary A. (Hood) Amou
Eugenia Burggraff
Janet Lane
Kathleen (Zeman) Moulds
Joyce A. (Casey) O’Connor
Missing Graduates from the class of 1985
Carol Roth
Marcella Schmaltz
Mary J. (Koenig) Schneider,
Betty (Bouza) Scott
Ardella (Kolbeck) Sherwood
Missing Graduates from the MMhS class of 1960
Janice Fait
Carol Guenther
Jean (Hanisch) Leonard
Missing Graduates from the ShSn class of 1960
Ann (Beehler) Johnson
Helen (Knutson) Vilhauer
Troy Andersen
Barbara L. (Flynn) Anderson
Monique Biscoe
Susan Boehmer
Dereck Boyden
Mary J. Buxton
Marjorie Deines
Connie Digmann
Julie A. Dvorak
Shelley (Jensen) Eisenbeisz
Pamela (Racek) Ernest
Jacqueline Fergen
Carole (Peterson) Filip
Carmen Guthmiller
Gregory S. Hafer
Yvonne Hargens
Ann M. (Kenkel) Hoyt
Kay (Oswald) Loland
Donna (Clifford) Marks
Yvonne Ruybal
Richard Inglett
John T. Kaggwa
Helen Kammarmeyer
Jill Kasperbauer
Denise A. (Deffenbaugh) Keiser,
Seung Kim
Patrick Kneifl
Melissa A. (Cimpl) Kolda
Denise Krause
Peggy Larive
Cathy (Schultz) Larson
Karen Mammenga
Thomas Martin
Patricia R. (Washnok) Miller
Kristian G. Mitzel
Ana Moran
Carolyn Nuss-Warren
Patricia K. Smith
Dolores (Keegan) Urban
Joyce (Montrose) Williamson
Anita M. (Murphy) Zecka
Evely (Tebben) Slagle
Mary (Lopez) Tate
Helen Ortmann
Geralda D. (Loecker) Pedersen
Michele (Muntefering) Peitz
Dawn Pfaff
Denise Phillips
Candace Ramirez
Lavonne Reineke
Patricia Richey
Deanna Sohler
Diane K. Sorensen
Michael Sykora
Marie (Tucker) Thompson
Jeff Washington.

Mount Marty College Honor Roll of Donors
President’s Society
President’s circle - $25,000+
Anonymous Donor
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart
Monastery
Bush Foundation
Richard and Elaine Garrity
Sister Kevin Irwin^ (H’47 C’54)
Claire Reiss^
Sister Arthur Schramm^ (H’50, C’65,
N’55, A’56)
President’s Society
Patrons - $10,000-$24,999
ARAMARK District Office
Sister Rosaleen Dickes^ (H’50, C’65)
First Dakota National Bank Yankton
Dr Aelred* and Irene Kurtenbach
Mollet Music Co.
Clark Redlinger^ (Deceased)
Volunteers Of America, Dakotas
Welfl Construction, Inc.
President’s Society
ambassadors - $5,000-$9,999
Dr James# and Ronda Barry
Diocese of Sioux Falls
Dr Steven* (C’77) and Ruth Feeney
Hatterscheidt Foundation
Marlene Rance*
President’s Society
associates -$2,500-$4,999
First Dakota Trust & Investments
Patrick Frank#
Dr John and Peggy Frank
Rudy* and Kathleen (C’87) Gerstner
Hy-Vee Food Store Yankton
Robert* and Bette Kathol
George Kayser (Deceased)
Luken Memorials Inc.
Celia^ and James Miner
Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home
Lori (C’64) and James Rausch
James* and Pat (H’62) Robinson
Robinson Motors
Roger Schaffer
Dr Bruce* and Nancy Teachout
Francis# (C’06) and Christine# Tudor
UPS Foundation
Wells Fargo of Yankton
Patricia (H’46) (Deceased) and PJ Werdel
President’s Society
Members $1,000-$2,499
James and Colette Abbott
Dr Frank and Judy Aiello
Jeanette (H’61 C’65) Bailey and Joe
Schneider
Dianne Breen (C’70)
Terrance (C’73) and Vickie (H’69 C’74)
Buschelman
Sarah# and David Carda
Catholic Foundation of Eastern South
Dakota
Cecilia (C’54) and George Chacko
Thomas and Barbara Cihak
Community Bank of Avon
CorTrust Bank - Yankton
Brandi DeFries#
Lorraine Devine (C’65)
Eileen (C’42) and James Donahue
Jim^ and Joyce Donohoe
Dow Corning Corporation
J.P. Duniphan*
Dwight C. Hauff Foundation
Steven (C’87) and Lori Dykeman
Embroidery & Screen Works
Carla# and Glen Eng
First National Bank of South Dakota
Denis* (C’73) and Mary Beth Fokken
Dr James# and Mary Louise Foster
Gerstner Oil Company
Wesley (C’89 C’95) and Lori (C’91) Green
Ron and Linda Gunden
Marian Gunderson^
Daisy# and Keith Halvorson
Dr Aaron and Paula Hamvas
Dr Janis# and Tom Hausmann
Michael* and Gerri (C’81) Healy
Arlene* and Gary^ Heine
Heine Cattle Company
Kathryn Higgins* (H’65)
Wayne^ and Lori Ibarolle
Father Donald Imming
Ken & Jeanne Isaak
Kenneth and Tonda Kirton
Eileen Lesher
Kent (C’75) and Barbara (C’78) Lethcoe
Mark (C’76) and Deborah Lethcoe
Jean Lethcoe (C’66)
Dr Alfred Lupien#
Mary Frances Lyle (C’37)
Joanne# and Steve Marsh
Audrey McGary
James^ and JoAnn Mentele
Microsoft Corporation
Missouri Valley Sports Medicine
MT & RC Smith Insurance Inc
Larry & Marge Murphy
Theresa Nemmers (C’71)
Bobby Nipps
Kathy Nordstrom*
Patrick O’Leary
Stephen and Patricia O’Leary
Olson’s Pest Technicians, Inc.
Christina (C’92) Orr and Nicholas Clarke
Orthopedic Institute
Dr Ruth Pakieser Macnamera and Terry
Macnamera
Clarice Pellettier (H’50 N’56)
Randy (C’97) and Sueanne Perry
William^ and Sandy Pier
Jason Pistulka (C’98)
Theresa (C’63) and Donald Powers
Dr Pamela^ and Bob Rezac
Dr Robert Ruetz and Family
Sacred Heart Parish
Larry* and Patricia Schmaltz
Dorothy Schmidt
Katherine Schmidt (C’59)
Science Applications International Corp.
Pearl Shih Wong
Jean Smith
South Dakota Humanities Council
Carol Steichen
Nick & Debbie Stocking
Dr Nelson# and Rev. Marilyn Stone
Kathleen Teget
Robert# and Judy Tereshinski
Dr Allan (C’80) and Kerry (C’81) Tramp
Dr Gloria Tysl (C’60)
United Church of Christ
US Bancorp Foundation
Edith VanEvera (C’81)
Leslie (C’92) and Rob Wagner
Velma Wagner
Dan^ and Judy (H’56) Wallbaum
Dr Derek# and Michelle Wesley
Yankton Medical Clinic
Yankton Rotary Club
Clara Yeoman (H’50 C’64)
Terry Yu (C’62)
Robert* and Charlene Zylstr
Founder’s Society $500-$999
Anonymous Donor
3M Foundation
Janet Beattie (C’48)
Amanda (C’07) and Matthew Benson
Andy# (C’99) and Stephanie (C’00)
Bernatow
Jay and Joy Black
Jim# and JoEllen (C’92) Bowers
BP Products North America Inc.
Broadway Chrysler Dodge Jeep
CUNA Mutual Group Foundation
Dayhuff Enterprises, Inc.
Dr Krisma# and Lloyd DeWitt
Jeannie (C’84) and Sandy Dillard
Msgr. James Doyle
Gene (C’99) and Angela (C’99) Elder
Joan England^
Barbara Farson (C’76)
Jack & Pam Frick
Lori Gengler-Olson (C’87, C’90) and Brad
Olson
Charles and Joan Gross
Geraldine (C’55) and Bernard Guss
Jean Hamiel
Warren and Dee Hatch
Ron & Ann Heine
Lilla Hunsley (C’65)
Clare Kapitan
Karl’s TV Audio Appliances
Knights of Columbus -Marty Council
#1536
Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc.
Norman Kunselman (C’76)
Max^ and Rita (C’70) Law
Philip (C’93) and Kari (C’96) Lenz
Dr Clark and Gerry Likness
Frank and Jean Lyons
Mahoney Hill CharItable Fund Trust
Robert and Edith Malone
Bonnie (C’70) and John Myers
Karen Nadeau (H’58)
Rita (H’57) and Franklin Narcisian
Cecelia Nielsen (C’73)
Julie (C’81) and Gary Pilcher
Pizza Ranch of Yankton
Robert and Darcy Pugh
Redlinger Bros Plumbing & Heating Co
Rice Insurance Agency
Virginia (H’66) Rusch and Ira Perman
Judith (C’65) and Tom Sanders
William (C’94) and Alison Seuntjens
Gayle (C’95) and Dorothy Small
Katherine (C’65) and Griffith Smith
South Dakota Magazine
Sister Marlene Stetz* (C’64)
Kathleen Strubert (H’50)
Tri-County Abstract & Title Company, Inc.
Bruce (C’83) and Deborah (C’83) Tschosik
Anthony (C’87) and Shari Weber
Bonnie (C’58) and Robert Wheeler
Julie Wilcox
Jesse (C’73) and Loxi Wolf
Phyllis Zwart (C’67)
*Current Trustee, #Employee, ^Past Trustee
Our apologies if we misspelled your name,
listed you in the wrong place or omitted
your name. Please accept our apology and
inform us of our error so we may correct
our database to ensure that we will not
make the same mistake in the future. Office
of Institutional Advancement.
1-800-658-4552 ext. 1542.
Because Mount Marty college takes its impact on the environment seriously, we will no longer print the entire
honor roll of donors. to view the list in its entirety, visit www.mtmc.edu/supporting.

1105 West Eighth Street
Yankton, SD 57078
Upcoming Alumni Events
FEBRUARY
6th Lincoln, NE
MMC vs. Nebraska Wesleyan
Refreshments between women’s & men’s
games, Weary Center, Rm. 106 A & B
20th Sioux Falls
Reception (time & location to be announced)
MusicFest at Washington Pavilion
MARCH
21st Alumni Brunch, Sioux City
(time and location to be announced)
APRIL
25th Omaha/Lincoln Buffett
Mahoney State Park
11:30 a.m.
29th Watertown Alumni Gathering/Senior
Sendoff
MAY
7th Senior Celebration Reception
8th Commencement
MMC Class of 1960 reunion
12th Mount Marty Golf Classic (Hillcrest)
Mark your calendars now for the
2010 Alumni Days ~ July 17-18