38 NORTHERN MAGAZINE IN MEMORIAM 1950 Leonard Garness, Sun City West, AZ, on Feb. 14, 2025. 1950 Ronald Edwin Stocking, Burnsville, MN, on April 5, 2025. 1952 Melvin Himmerich, Ipswich, SD, on March 19, 2025. 1952 Robert Tippy, Colorado Springs, CO, on September 3, 2024. 1953 Avon L. Hauffe, Wickenburg, AZ, on Nov. 17, 2010. 1953 Helen (Harbaugh) Holsing, Cresbard, SD, on March 6, 2025. 1953 Patricia (Grover) Fors, Aberdeen, SD, on Nov. 7, 2025. 1955 Lois Sollie, Aberdeen, SD, on Feb. 27, 2025. 1955 Mary Ann (Fjelstad) Wehde, Aberdeen, SD, on Sept. 9, 2025. 1955 Milo Opp, Eureka, SD, on Jan. 3, 2025. 1956 Gerald Beutler, Eureka, SD, on Aug. 18, 2025. 1956 Susan (Gapp) Chaplin, Sturgis, SD, on Nov. 1, 2024. 1958, 1966 Gary Hepperle, Aberdeen, SD, on Dec. 31, 2024. 1958 Harold Kirchgasler, New Hartford, IA, on May 19, 2025. 1958 Louise (Ham) Clark, Aberdeen, SD, on Nov. 24, 2025. 1959 Marilyn Kay (Frey) Bunn, Elkhart, IN on Sept. 15, 2024. 1959 Robert Drew, Gettysburg, SD, on May 3, 2025. 1960 Arlene (Simon) Randall, Aberdeen, SD, on Feb. 19, 2025. 1960 Jermitt Krage, Stoughton, WI, on Aug. 23, 2025. 1962 Anita Lorene Webb (Cowhick), Aberdeen, SD, on April 11, 2025. 1962 Dr. Dean Bryson, Rapid City, SD, on Nov. 4, 2024. 1962 Eva Steen, Aberdeen, SD, on May 5, 2025. 1962 Jerauld Wright, Durham, NC, on Aug. 20, 2025. 1963/1968 Burma (Olson) Brekke, Crosslake, MN, on Jan. 24, 2025. 1963 Norm Scott, Aberdeen, SD, on April 13, 2025. 1964 James Gohn, Aberdeen, SD, on Jan. 14, 2025. 1964 Norg Sanderson, Aberdeen, SD, on June 8, 2025. 1997 Wendy Thorson has been named 2025 Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster of the Year, an honor given to exceptional band directors for their impact on music education. Wendy is currently band director for the Northwestern Area School District in Mellette. 2007 Ashley Seeklander has been named state counselor of the year by the South Dakota Counseling Association in 2025. Seeklander is a counselor in the Aberdeen Public School District and works at Lincoln Elementary. She also received the award in 2019 while working in the Groton Area School District. 2018 Lucas Lorenz has been named to the 2025 Forbes | SHOOK® Research list of top financial advisors under 40 in South Dakota— an honor awarded to rising leaders in the industry. This recognition highlights advisors who demonstrate excellence in areas such as best practices, compliance records, and assets under care. 2021 Amanda McIlravy was accepted into the DMA program in vocal performance at the University of Memphis. Amanda recently completed her MM in vocal performance at the University of Northern Iowa. 2024 Piumi Kasthuri Arachchi was accepted into the PhD program in music education at Michigan State University. 2024 Sierra Sweeney has been awarded the highly competitive Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS M) award. Valued at $27,000 CAD, the scholarship will support Sweeney’s graduate studies and research in Canada through funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). 2025 Marie Snavely was a 2025 recipient of the ND Governor’s Award for the Arts. She received her Masters in Art Education from Northern. CELEBRATIONS 1962 Ronald Brown Ron Brown & wife Nancy of Gardner, KS. Will celebrate their 60th anniversary on Feb. 19th, 2026. They have 4 sons (3 married) & 1 married daughter, 10 grandchildren, & 5 greatgrandchildren. Ron is retired USAF & has served in Turkey, England, Germany, California Oklahoma & South Dakota. 1962/1974 Tom Butch Tom Butch celebrated his 90th birthday on Jan. 11th, 2025. Tom received his bachelors degree May 29, 1962. He then received his masters degree Aug. 9, 1974. Tom served on the “Game Day Staff/Clock Operator” At NSU for 50 years. 2025 Nathan Schauer & Abby Meister NSU student-athletes Nathan Schauer and Abby Meister celebrated their wedding on May 2, 2025. 2026 Zachary Daggett is a current student and has secured a competitive summer internship with Delta Air Lines. He will relocate to Delta’s corporate headquarters. There, he’ll assist with financial reporting, analysis and compliance tasks as part of the airline’s corporate accounting division.
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