According to one internet site (https://mysticalnumbers.com/number-4/), there are: four cardinal points (north, south, east, and west); four winds; four phases of the moon; four seasons; and four elements (earth, air, fire, and water). Many of you can probably come up with other important topics that contain the number of four.
On the Fourth, eight classmates were hosted to a great time by Bob Ishmael and his wife Pam on their acreage east of town. As my arrival was delayed, a few had left before I arrived. It was a great time, and Bob, Pam, and I talked for a couple of hours after the others had left. One of the attendees summed it up by emailing us saying "Thank you, Bob and Pam Ishmael for hosting today's get together. SO fun!" Other opportunities for us to convene will be upcoming on five Thursdays beginning July 22 when "Downtown Sundown" returns to Main Street after a one-year hiatus. The activities begin in the evening at 5:30 and will run until 9:00 pm. More information can be found at www.downtownatsundown.org. The Register had an article on the return of this event today, July 16. https://brookingsregister.com/article/dtatsd-is-back
Another significance of the number four is that four of our wonderful mothers have passed away recently in the span of about 5 weeks. Those outstanding women are Gwen Andersen, mother of Mike (https://www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com/obituary/gwendolyn-Andersen); Frances Trapp, mother of Yvonne (https://www.rustandweilandfuneral.com/obituaries/Frances--Trapp?obId=21395660#/obituaryInfo); Nona Marshall, mother of Mike (https://www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com/obituary/nona-marshall), and Elizabeth Christie, mother of Peggy (https://www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com/obituary/elizabeth-christie).
My connections with Mike A. during our school days were minimal. However, his children were students of mine. His daughter Becca ran cross-country for us, but she loved dance even more, and concentrated on that during her later years, I believe. Becca and her good friend Abigail Hegerfeld sang "Our Town" at the memorial service. Abby was also a good hurdler in middle school, but also concentrated on dance in high school. (Can the pictures be enlarged by clicking on them?)
Although her obituary indicates the Trapp family moved to Brookings in 1967, Yvonne (freshman) and her brother Mark (junior) are pictured in the 1966 annual. While I do not recall Yvonne in any of my classes, Mark was in our P.E. class. He proved his strength by climbing the rope in the pit without using his legs. Instead, he held his legs out perpendicularly to his body so they were parallel with the floor. No one else could even come close to achieving that feat. When we tried, we could not get off the floor.
However, in the 1967 annual, neither Yvonne nor Mark are pictured. In the 19968 annual, Yvonne's picture reappears. Does anyone know the reason behind her disappearance for one year? Was her father doing graduate work at another institution? Did he have a military assignment that took him away from Brookings?
Frances Trapp Obituary - Madison, South Dakota , Weiland Funeral Chapel | Tribute Archive
Nona Marshall, mother of Mike, passed away on June 19. At the funeral, I was able to have a nice visit and reminiscence with Mike. Mike older sister Ginny (class of 1967) passed away a few years ago, and was married to a fellow named Oran Sattler at the time of her death. From about February 1968 until August 1968, I had a part-time job at the post office (courtesy of Tom Lyons, father of Kris) sorting packages from 5:30-8:00 before school. Originally, it was only on Saturday. Gradually, Tuesday and then Thursdays were added. After the basketball season was completed, my hours were changed from 4:00-6:00 daily except Sunday. My partner on the morning shift was Oran Sattler, college student, gymnast, and future husband of Mike's sister. We, too, were able to reminiscence about those days.
One benefit of that job was that it paid quite well for a high-school student. One detriment, though, was that it was difficult to stay awake during some classes on the day(s) I had to work before school. By the time chemistry class started around 3:00, I was ready for a nap. If Mr. Karnes was showing a film then, I could sneak one in. Otherwise, I was out of luck.
In my early years of teaching, Mrs. Marshall worked in the resource room at the high school. The athletic director's office was located in the back of the resource. When we were in school, that office was located in the boys locker room. However, with the introduction of girls' sports, the new director wanted everyone to have access to his office, not just the males. Since he was an outstanding mentor to me, I had the occasion to visit him quite often, especially when he asked me to coach girls' basketball at the middle school level. Hence, I was able to see Mrs. Marshall quite regularly, and learned what a wonderful person she was.
On June 20, Elizabeth Christie, mother of Peggy, passed away. Since they lived in the rural areas, Peggy received a wonderful education through 8th grade (was she was county spelling champion one year?), and then came to 9th grade in the old high school-junior high building. My contacts with Peggy were minimal during those years. However, a few years later, Peggy's youngest sister Melissa was in my homeroom during her middle school years.
Peggy married a fine fellow named Bud Eggers. His brother David was a well-known chiropractor in town. His children, too, were students of ours during their middle school years. At the visitation, we had some wonderful visits with all of them.
Did anyone notice that the roses on the Marshall and Christie notices were identical? Our thoughts, condolences, and prayers go out to both Mikes, Yvonne, and Peggy during their loss.
Update July 19, 2021
Forgot to mention that Patricia Ann Knutson, a member of the first class to graduate from the "new high school," sadly passed away about a year and a half ago. Her memorial service was at the First Lutheran Church in Brookings on June 11, 2021. We knew her better as Patti Jerde, an energetic cheerleader. When the class of 1968 had their 50th reunion a couple of years ago, she was planning on attending. However, her illness prevented her from coming. She married Curt Knutson (class of 1966) in the 1970's I believe.
Curt had several siblings. Just a couple of years ago, one of his older sisters passed away in Sioux Falls. At that visitation, I had the chance to talk with Curt. Patti was also there, so it was a good chance to reminiscence with both of them, as well as Curt's twin sisters in Patti's class, Vicki and Becki Knutson. They married a couple of Curt's classmates; Darryl Larson, brother of Duane of our class, John Sundet. Curt's older brother "Sonny" (Stanford) was about the age of a couple of my older brothers. They did a great deal of hunting and fishing together, as well as playing a little basketball. One of Sonny's daughters was in the first class of 8th graders I taught in the 1973-4 school year.
Curt's father and my father were also hunting and fishing partners. In fact, one year, they bought an old school bus and refurbished it into a "camper" and drove it up to Big Stone Lake and parked it there. If any of the families went fishing up there, they had a place to stay. It wasn't the Waldorf-Astoria, but it took care of one's primitive needs sufficiently.
A number of Patti's classmates came back for her memorial service. In addition to the Knutson twins and their husbands were some of her cheerleader friends and a few members of the championship basketball team of 1968.
The trip to the cemetery was quite memorable. Patti's mother (and perhaps other relatives) is buried in a cemetery near Toronto, South Dakota. When we first stopped at a cemetery near there, it was discovered that it was the wrong one. The correct one was still a couple of miles away. In any case, we arrived at the right place.
Afterwards, there was a gathering at Innovation Village. Again, it was good to reminiscence with everyone who knew Patti. Darryl Larson especially had many good stories that we could all relate to.
