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After graduation, NICKOLAS RASMUSSEN joined the Army. After six years, he left the Army and in 1981, he married Margie Smith from Herman, Nebraska. They have two children, Lori and Jason. Lori is a freshman at Mercy High and Jason is in the sixth grade at Holy Cross. Nickolas is a Parts Manager at McMullen Ford in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nickolas is very active at Holy Cross Church, being the past president of the Booster Club, Festival Chairman, and member of the Parish Council.
Since graduation, BECKY SMITH YOHN lived in Ohio, Arizona, and now in Minnesota. She is married and has a stepdaughter (29), stepson (24), daughter (15), son (12), granddaughter (6), and grandson (3). She works in the medical field as an Office Manager.
MILTON E. SCURLOCK, SR.: Milton ran cross-country for Benson in 1970-1971 seasons. Benson has not sent a cross-country team to the State competitions since 1971 until this year when Benson finished fifth at Metro and eighth at State. Milton's twin daughters are both active in track. One daughter, Mileka, won five medals out of nine events. The entire family is looking forward to the track season this year.
JIM ELSTUN: Jim has been married to Peggy (Omaha Cathedral) for 22 years. They have four children ranging for 7 to 20 years old. Jim is the store director for Toys R Us in Columbia, Missouri. They lived in Minnesota for the past 11 years when they moved to Missouri this year. Most of their extended families still live in Omaha and they visit quite often.MOLLY MORIARTY: Molly has taught at Central High School in Omaha for six years. She has been teaching for 21 years. She has her Masters in Music and Violin and plays with the Omaha Symphony part time since 1974. She also plays in The Midlands String Quartet for weddings and parties. She was awarded The Teacher of the Year 1997 for Nebraska by the American String Teachers for Public School Teaching. She has also conducted for All City Music Festival Junior High Orchestra for 1995 and 1998.
Alum Updates:
David Shirley. Dave joined the Navy after graduation. His first assignment was to sunny Southern California. He made two West-Pacific tours, with the last one aiding in the evacuation of Saigon. He spent the next two years working in San Diego, finally moving to Oregon. In 1979, he re-enlisted in the Navy, this time going to the East coast and making a Med deployment. After his discharge, he wound up in Oregon again, but eventually moved to Bremerton, Washington, where he has worked for the Department of the Navy for the last 17 years. Dave met his wife, Kelly, in Bremerton. They have been married for six years. He has two stepsons: Nate (17), and Kris (15).
Mary Jane Texley. Mary Jane married Craig Lamb (1971 Bunny). They have lived 26 years in Lincoln where they raised 2 children. The youngest will graduate from Lincoln High in 2001. Mary Jane graduated from UNL in 1985 with a BS in journalism and home economics. She has continued her love for music by teaching children to play piano and flute at the Lamb Music Studio in her home. Through this 120 children and families lives have been touched with the joy of making music. She is active in her church and enjoys piecing quilts and weaving.
On The Move . . .
Cort Johnson has become a Buffalo! Er,
well, he has recently moved from Columbus, Nebraska, to Colorado Springs,
anyway. Good luck in Colorado, Cort!
Teri Park was involved in the bicycle business in Omaha in the 70s and 80s but returned to finish her degree in communication at UNO in 1991. She worked as a computer graphic designer and instructor for five years and is currently Advertising Manager at Nebraska Furniture Mart. Teri lives with her son John, 18 and her second husband, Marvin Harold in Herman, Nebraska.
Debbie Steffa Sinclair and Linda Puncochar Brablec have formed a committee to begin work on the 30 year reunion. An organizational meeting was recently held at the Rusty Nail. The next meeting is on January 10, 2001. Interested in working on the reunion? Let us know.
Sandra Tuttle Canick (Benson - 1972) on the death of her cousin, David Austin (Benson - 1972).
Received from Rose Lubednek Liike: I have been married to Don Liike (BHS '71) for 27 years. I have 2 children, Sara (15) and Sean (21) who is married, and has a daughter who is 6 months old. We have lived in Wichita since 1988. My husband works for FlightSafety International as a FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and Flight Instructor on Cessna business jets. I currently work for Neil Engineering in Wichita as an Office Manager, and have been there since 1996. Don and I like to travel extensively and visit our family in Omaha several times a year.
The Reunion Committee has announced the dates for the 30 year reunion:
July 19 & 20, 2002
Mark your calendars! Tentative plans include Friday night at the American Legion Hall in Millard and Saturday evening at the Marriott Hotel in Regency (a block of rooms at reduced rates will be reserved for travelers). Watch your snail mail box for additional details coming soon.
Didn't get a snail mail postcard announcing the reunion dates? That's because we don't know where you are or we have a really, really old address for you. Send us your current address!
On the passing of one of our beloved teachers, Gunnar Horn, deceased June 12, 2001.
Among all the teachers I've ever had -- grade, high school and college -- Gunnar Horn was head and shoulders above any others as my favorite. Because of his enthusiasm, dedication, and perseverance, Gunnar taught me the principles of good journalism. When I graduated from Benson in 1972, I knew without question I was going to major in journalism. By the time I entered the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in the fall of 1972, I had already landed a job as the "night" reporter at the Lincoln Journal. At age 18, I was one of the youngest metropolitan newspaper reporters in the country. The credit all goes to Gunnar Horn. By the way, I wasn't allowed to take "beginning news writing and reporting" at UN-L until I was a sophomore -- a year after working at the Lincoln Journal. Apparently, Dumbsville existed then -- as it does now, only in different fashions.
Mark Ward went to UNO after graduation and obtained a degree in business. While at UNO he married Janie, a 1973 Bellevue HS graduate. From 1981 to 1986 they lived in Columbus, Nebraska, where Mark worked for B-D, a medical device company. In 1986 Mark joined Abbott Laboratories and relocated to North Carolina to the town of Rocky Mount. During their 7 years in North Carolina Mark and Janie took advantage of the beaches and the year round golf as well as the access to many of the major cities on the east coast. In 1993 they were transferred to the Chicago area where they reside today. Mark works with Abbott as a Program Manager in the operations area and Janie, also with Abbott, works in marketing. The beaches and golf are mostly gone but access to the great city of Chicago (even considering the long winters) more than makes up for move. They thoroughly enjoy being back in the Midwest and the opportunity to return to Omaha on a more frequent basis.
July 19 & 20, 2002
"That 70's Weekend"
Friday, July 19
Millard American Legion Hall #374
4618 South 139th Street
Omaha, NE 68137
(402) 895-1324
6:30 PM -
Registration - 70's Weekend Begins!
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM - Cash Bar, Appetizers provided. Casual
Dress. 70's Music. Visit and catch up with classmates!
Saturday,
July 20
Marriott Regency
10220 Regency Circle
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 399-9000
6:00 PM -
Cocktail Hour/Cash Bar
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM - Dinner, Program, Dance/70's Music (Skidrow
& Johnny O). Casual Dress Again! 70's Dress Contest!
(Dress 70's if desired - Awards given out!)
Program includes:
Best 70's Outfit Award
70's Trivia Contest Winner
Video Show (available to order
Potential Classmates Entertainment
Both Nights - $50 Per Person
Friday Night Only - $20 Per Person
Saturday Night Only - $30 Per Person
After June 15 - Add $5 Per Person
Video - $20 at Reunion, $23 Mailed
Memory Book - $10 at Reunion, $13 Mailed.
Molly Patton, daughter of classmate Debra Gorig (Deceased), was put up for adoption 30 years ago. She did not locate her mother until after Debra passed away. Molly is interested in making contact with anybody who hung out with Debra in high school, or even after high school. If you are interested in making this contact, please communicate your willingness through Lee Ackermann, and Lee will put you in touch with Molly.