NHS 1965 News

Lanee Hollinger Rowell and Kent holden

Dave Harmer, Marilyn Peterson, Lanee Hollinger, Craig Johnson, Tom Severson, Kent Holden

It was back in 1955 that my family moved to rural Northfield. I started school at Castle Rock and met classmates Edith Fredrickson, Linda Nelson, Marilyn Strachan and through them met Sharon Volkert, and many from the class of ‘64. I went to church and school in Castle Rock, so hung around with the neighborhood kids. I remember riding my horse over to Linda Nelson’s and we’d go riding. What Fun days those were! I can also remember finding the “old” Castle Rock Cemetary. Well, the years flew by and during our middle school years met up with Pat Stanton. We rode the same school bus, and began spending time together. I have fun memories of hanging around during the summer and going to the drive-in movies at night with our group of friends. Once in high school I added many more friends to my social circle and after all those years we still get together. I live so far away now and only make it to a couple meetings a year, but oh how special they are! After high school, I like many others, decided the cities were calling. I got my own apartment and moved near the U. of M. There I received my training in the medical field and began working as a medical secretary – loved every minute of it. While there, Edith Fredrickson (who also lived by the U) and I joined a fast pitch softball team and low and behold, that is where I met my husband Don. After we married in 1969 we lived in the Minneapolis area and had two children. After almost 20 years of city life we moved back to the Northfield area. I took a job at the Northfield Hospital and although Don still worked for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and yes drove the sixty miles one way to work, he also became the Chief of Police in Dundas. Quite a schedule for our family. Our kids loved the area it was kind of neat to have my kids go to the same school I went to. In 1998, Don decided it was time to retire and so he did. I was too young to retire, so just quit. We sold everything and bought a motor home and toured the country for five years. We ended up in Yuma Arizona where we have been ever since. The traveling continues. We have gone on 5 cruises, the last was in January 2008 a trip of a lifetime – 30 days to Hawaii and the South Pacific. Our next jouney is a 34 day ” Tour of the Vikings “, leaving from Boston in July 2009. Our son Craig live in Las Vegas, so we see him during the winter and our daughter Jenni and husband live in Minnesota, so we see them during the summer. Last year, we bought a RV lake lot near Annandale and our daughter and husband live next door to us, which makes for a great summer. During the summer we travel in a 17′ trailer and love it. Good thing we get along! We have also been priviledged, because of Don’s Law enforcement backgroud, to have worked a summer in Yosemite National Park and if all goes well, the next couple of years should find us in Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon.

I can remember helping plan our 50th birthday party and then going to our “60th” last year. We are all so fortunate to have such a great class – no other class, as far as I know, in the history of Northfield High does what we have done and will continue to do!

Submitted by Pat Nelson

John and Vicky Tripp: Northfield entertainment consumers extraordinaire – By Lora SteilAs we begin the New Year, take an entertainment tip from John and Vicky Tripp, entertainment consumers extraordinaire.LS: Did you both grow up in Northfield?

Vicky: John is a Northfield native, but I grew up in Red Wing. I’ve been here since attending St. Olaf and meeting John.

LS: How did the two of you meet?

Vicky: We met upstairs at the Rueb N’ Stein, and they must have had live music because I remember dancing and we were married six months later.

LS: Did you both attend St. Olaf?

Vicky: I was there first and graduated with a Sociology degree.

John: I started at St. Olaf after we were married. I had been in the Navy and had GI benefits. I graduated with a degree in Home Economics Education.

Vicky: I work in retail at Hoffman Photography

John: ¦and after I graduated I took a carpentry job and have been in that trade ever since.

LS: You met at the Rueb, dancing to live music and that theme seems to have continued throughout your marriage.

John: Early on we agreed that if it was a choice between a live event and watching something on TV, we would choose the live event. The TV is always going to be there, but being at a live event is much more interesting.

LS: What kind of events do you take in?

Vicky: We really like live music. There is such a good variety in Northfield.We also go to student recitals, Raider football games and most Carleton Men’s and Women’s basketball games, as well as gallery openings, plays, Dundas baseball games

LS: Has there always been so much entertainment?

John: There was kind of a dry spell for maybe 10-12 years in the ’80s, but in the last eight to nine years things have really picked up. On most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you have at least three live music events to choose from.

LS: You’re St. Olaf grads, how did you get started on Carleton basketball?

John: About 20 years ago when Guy Kalland first started, I had an apprentice working with me, who was also helping Guy coach at Carleton. He said we should come to a game now that Guy was the coach.We did and we’ve been going ever since.We watched Tammy Metcalf-Filzen when she played basketball for the Raiders and St. Olaf, so when she started coaching, we started watching the Carleton women’s team.

Vicky: We have followed the teams on the road and have been in all of the MIAC gyms except Concordia-Moorhead.We even went to a “meet-the-team” event and “adopted” one of the players from Oregon. Some of the players from outof- state feel a little lost after a game when other players are surrounded by family.

LS: And the bands, why do you enjoy watching them so much?

John: The musicians are playing because they love it. They aren’t making great amounts of money, but they love what they are doing and it shows.We have very high quality musicians to watch in town.

Vicky: We like the variety of the music they play as well, from old classics to new.We have gotten to know quite a few of the musicians and have even suggested songs for them to work up. It is great to watch them develop their repertoire.

LS: Have you ever wanted to get up on stage and join the action?

John: I was in the Shakespeare festival one year. It was something I always wanted to do. Now I’ve done it and it was fine, but I think I’ll stick to watching plays from now on.

LS: Can you fit in anything else? Vicky: We really like to travel.We traveled quite a bit around the United States when we were first married, but more recently we have traveled frequently to France and Italy.We really like the southwestern area of France, the food is very good and there is a lot to see.

LS: In general what is your assessment of the arts and entertainment scene in Northfield?

Vicky: We are really fortunate to have so many opportunities in a town this size. The colleges have so much to offer to the general public and the music venues are really great, so many choices. The NAG, ArtOrg, Grezzo and college galleries offer so many visual art choices. John: On the one hand it is nice that events are so accessible. On the other hand sometimes I wish, for the band’s sake, that more people were in attendance.

LS: What would you tell people who are hesitant to go and listen to live music? Vicky: Come out and listen, these bands are great…and stay whether the pub is empty or full, someone is bound to invite you to join them at their table, Northfielders are very friendly.

John: The TV will always be there, but what happens on these stages is spontaneous and more exciting. Introduce yourself to the band, they want to get to know you and welcome your presence.

So there you go, entertainment consumers extraordinaire.

posted by Pat Nelson

Most people will do just about anything to keep from going outside on piercing cold nights as was the case on January 19th. It went down to about -12. But, hey there was a surprise 60th birthday party for Dick and Linda Stowe Fink. I bundled up, kept the seat warmers on max and went to the party. Linda and Jim Grisim, Dan and Cheryl Nesseth, and Gary and Kristi Pasek were there also. A good time was had by all. We looked back … and talked about the sixties. We looked forward … and talked about the sixties, retirement and travel. Dick and Linda had traveled to Alaska in September. Linda was sick for a lot of the trip but they still saw a lot and had a great time. Dick says that if he had gone there when he was 22 he never would have come back. Linda is doing better now, but continues to battle fibromyalgia. Dick’s birthday was December 2nd and Linda’s was November 24. Dick was the youngest in our class. What a great couple! Happy birthday to good friends! Posted by Pat Nelson

Because of other committments, some of the 1965 grads were not able to attend the birthday party. A few weeks later a few of us gathered for lunch. Mary Jo McKenzie was in town, so Kristi Foss Pasek set up a lunch date. Some faces that many have not seen for awhile showed up. Linda Stowe Fink, Linda Hubers Kasparek, and Sherry Behrens. Mary Auge’s daughter Alison was married in Portland the day of the birthday party so she came to lunch with lots of pictures of the wedding. Debbie Freeman happened to be out for lunch with her brother so she joined us for pictures. I took a few pictures and wanted to share them with the class on our new blog.  Posted by Pat Nelson