Georgia Sagerhorn

To Class of 1965 -- Just a note to inform you of the passing of Bruce Josephs mother last week.  The service was held on Friday.

Linda Bakken (Peterka)

Age doesn’t matter, neither yours nor the age of the parent. When death comes to our door, saying “Good Bye” to a parent or a child is heart breaking, even when we know that person is passing into a new form of life we all look forward to. Sympathies go out to Bruce and his family. Jon and Linda Peterka

Georgia Sagerhorn

Our sympathy to Gary Miller and his sister Beverly on the passing of Archie Miller on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 101 years.

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sending out sympathy to Carol Anderson Larson and her family on the passing of her mother.

Am also sending sympathy to Margaret Sether Rollag and family on the passing of her sister, Cynthia Johnson. (Class of 1959)

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sympathy to Kasey Sander Merz on the passing of her brother, Robert!  May he rest is peace.

Georgia Sagerhorn

I received a call from Sandy Stubbs Crawford this afternoon asking if I would announce that Susan Smith Clambey's father passed away yesterday.  I haven't checked the funeral homes but am sure there will be an announcement at some point this week.  She did mention that Olson Funeral Home is handling things.

Georgia Sagerhorn

I found the obituary on Olson Funeral Home a while ago.  I'm hoping this will come through.  Thank you Sandy Stubbs Crawford for letting me know.

Obituary for Fred R. Smith

Fred Ralph Smith, 98, passed away peacefully of natural causes at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls, MN on the morning of December 26, 2020. The son of Fred William and Helen (Stenstrom) Smith, he was born in Minneapolis on August 12, 1922. Growing up there, he was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, attended Webster Elementary School and graduated from Edison High School in 1941, where he first met Mary Soldahl. Fred and Mary were married on September 5, 1943 and shared almost 73 years of marriage before Mary died in August 2016. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1943 to early 1946, with duty throughout much of the South Pacific during the heat of summers and in postwar Japan in the cold of winter. He was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 1946 he began a career of 39 years with Graybar Electric Corporation, first in the Minneapolis branch office, followed by 29 years as the northwest Minnesota district sales representative with his office in Fergus Falls. He and Mary, together with their children, were longstanding members of First Lutheran Church and active in community affairs.

After retirement, Fred and Mary became Arizona winter residents until 2011, returning to Fergus Falls for half or more of each year. That provided opportunities to be with family members and friends, to travel, and to participate in outdoor activities. They especially invited each of their grandchildren for a weeklong visit plus tour of the southwest.

Due to Mary’s declining health, they again became year-round Fergus Falls residents, with Mary needing to move into PioneerCare in early 2011, and shortly after her death in 2016, Fred moved to PioneerCare because of increasing health care needs. The tender, thoughtful care of both Mary and Fred by Pioneer staff has been much appreciated. Both Mary and Fred were graduates of LB Hospice care, having shown significant improvement while under their additional care.

Fred and Mary are remembered for their lifelong love and support of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. During their extended time at PioneerCare, Fred would drive from their home each day to spend time with Mary. Along with his dedicated work for Graybar Electric, he was noted for his diverse skills with home projects, his careful financial management, a reflection of having lived through the Great Depression and World War II, attention to physical well-being, and enjoyment of outdoor activities, especially golf.

Linda, his daughter-in-law, recalled… “A life well lived and well loved.”

Preceding him in death were his parents; his sisters, Ruth, Lois, and Jean; daughter-in-law, Barbara, and niece, Ruth Anne Tetzman.

Survivors include, daughter, Susan (Gary) Clambey; sons, Mark (Ramona) and Paul Smith; grandsons, Mark (Kelli Lind) Smith, Eric (Linda van Dyk) Clambey, Bryce (Dacotah Nelson) Clambey, Shelbert (Alexis Lombardi Nelson) Smith; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Michael, Lula and Hank, Tabor and Prairie; nieces, Nancy Hertzog (also his Goddaughter), Christine Soldahl, Kathy Sinnett, and Nancy Lounder; nephews, Ralph Hammond and Eric (Elizabeth) Soldahl; great-nieces, Paula Emmons and Lori Tetzman; cousins, Leslie Porter and Brian Plankey.

Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church, Radio Fund, 402 S. Court Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 or Habitat for Humanity International, Marquis Two Tower, 285 Peachtree Center Ave NE #2700, Atlanta, GA 30303, or PioneerCare Foundation 1131 S. Mabelle Ave Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Due to current public health concerns, a private family funeral service will be held at Olson Funeral Home, with a Live-Stream event at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 2, 2021. Please refer to the funeral home website for a link to the Live-stream. The interment will follow at the First Lutheran North Cemetery.
Clergy: Reverend David Strom
Military Participation: American Legion Post 30 and VFW Post 612

Arrangements are provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com

Alanna R Erickson (Stelzer)

Susan and family,

       So sorry to hear of the passing of your dad.  It sounds like he had a full and long life.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Love, Lani

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sympathy to the Gary and Kay Jennen Family on the passing of their son, Christopher J. Jennen, 28, on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Services were held on February 6, 2021.

May he rest in peace.

Georgia Sagerhorn

I was reading the weekender this afternoon and came across an announcement for Steve Larson's dad.  There was an addresss where people could send a card for Kenny Larson.  Not the best posting but thought there might be some interest.  I could not get the scan to post but this is what it said:

Kenneth Larson, aka "Country Kenny"

100th birthday on March 16, 2021

Card shower:  35968 County Hwy 72, Battle Lake, MN 56515-9140

Georgia Sagerhorn

Last week I read an obituary about Curtis Darrel Anderson, did a little looking through reference books and came to the conclusion that the above name was a classmate.

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sympathy to Marlene Elliott Johnson and family on the loss of her brother Jerry due to cancer.

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sympathy to Susan Zimmerman Hensch and her family on the passing of her brother, James "Jim" Zimmerman.  He passed away at his lake home on Otter Tail Lake on Sunday July 4, 2021.

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sympathy to Janice C. Anderson Noplos on the death of her stepson, James Noplos.  He passed away on June 30, 2021.

Gerald (Gerry) Worner

Classnate photos from the 1965 Otter Tales yearbook (annual) are available to view using the following web address.    Copy this link, paste it in your browser bar, and look back to 1965!:

http://pipaul.com/Class%20of%201965%20photos.pdf

Thanks to Paul Glorvigen for providing these.

Georgia Sagerhorn

On September 1, 2021, I received a message from Charlene Shorter Lattery about the passing of Deanna Tomhave Melby on August 31, 2021.  According to the message, there will be a funeral service on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel in Grand Forks.  My understranding was there will be a burial in Fergus Falls.

May she rest in peace!

Georgia Sagerhorn

This week, Marjorie Stenstrom passed away at 99 years of age.  She is the mother of Barb Stenstrom  Benzmiller Buschkopf of Mesa, CO.  If anyone is in touch with Barb, please see if she will set up her contact info and  profile.  May your mother rest in peace!

Georgia Sagerhorn

Tom Hintgen (zepherin07@gmail.com) is looking for Bruce Jospephs email.  Is there anyone that has it and can send it to Tom?

Georgia

Georgia Sagerhorn

Sympathy to Wayne Estenson's family on his passing on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

Wayne D. Estenson, 76, of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls.

Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2022, at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, with visitation one-hour prior to the service at the church. Per family request, masks are preferred.
Clergy: Reverend David Strom and Reverend Tiffany Sundeen
Interment: First Lutheran North Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN

Arrangements provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com

Dan Larson

I only knew Wayne from interacting with him as a football student manager. He took that position very seriously and took pride in doing a great job. He was a very good classmate and person. Quiet for the most part, but conversations in the hall or at practice were informative and interesting. Most of the time he seemed rather shy, but when he had something to say, he said it well and with enthusiasm. Thank you Wayne.

Georgia Sagerhorn

WILLIAM "BILL" JOHNSON

Thank you to Dick and Phyllis Rossow on calling me regarding Bill Johnson's death.

July 15, 1947 - March 8, 2022

Waverly - William Bryant Johnson, 74, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at the Coffey County Hospital in Burlington, Kansas. He was born on July 15, 1947, in Bremerton, Washington, the son of Paul and Evelyn Oas Johnson.

Bill, as he was known to all, had lived near Waverly since May of 1989.

Bill graduated from Fergus Falls High School in Minnesota in 1965 and then served in the United States Air Force for over 23 years and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1989. He had then worked at K-Mart and Wal-Mart Distribution, Communicolor printing company in Eudora and then for International Paper/Weyerhaeuser/Willamette Industries at Forbes Field in Topeka. He had been a Scout Leader for several years.

On August 3, 1968, Bill was united in marriage to Carol Jean White in Overbrook. Kansas.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Evelyn; and his sister, Joan Johnson.

Bill is survived by his wife Carol Jean of 53 years; his son, William (Amy) Johnson of Lawrence; his daughter, Sara Johnson (Brandon Ramburger) of Emporia; his four grandchildren, Billy Johnson, Abby Johnson, Jesse Johnson (Betty Peralta), and Noah Johnson; and a great-granddaughter, Sammy Peralta.

A celebration of life for Bill will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451. 

Jenifer Steen (Mayer)

Looking forward to our 60th reunion on August 8-9!!. Gary and I will attend.

Jenifer Steen Mayer

Connie L Domholt (Wiese)

Connie Domholt (Wiese)
John and I plan to attend the 60th
class reunion August 8-9, 2025. 

Gene Wenstrom

Jackie and I plan to attend our 60th class reunion in August 2025. Hard to believe it has been 60 years! 

Susan Smith (Clambey)

Hi Classmates of 1965 !       My husband, Gary, and I hope to attend the 60th class reunion in August of 2025!

Thanks to those starting the planning process. I realize that does take lots of advance work.

Just as a post script,

On August 23rd, the class of 1963 is celebrating their 60th class reunion.

So I will see a few of our classmates who married 1963 graduates as I did.

Take care everyone ! Susan (Smith) Clambey