Recently, our class lost a couple of wonderful "veterans," Verna Peterson, the 96-year old mother of Phil Peterson, and Pauline Eggers, the 94 year-old mother-in-law of Peggy (Christie) Eggers. Our deepest condolences go out to both of them on their loss. My connections with Mrs. Peterson were minimal, but she and her husband, who passed away nine years ago (http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2012/04/phil-petersons-father-passes-away.html), did own Midway Grocery when we were growing up.
My connections with Pauline Eggers were somewhat more extensive. Her grandchildren, Erika, Kristin, Jordan, and Adrian, were students of ours a number of years ago. Their father, David Eggers, was a well-known chiropractor in town, and was featured regularly on KBRK to offer his wisdom and advice for optimizing our health habits. This summer, I was asked to help out at our church once a month to visit the home-bound. Mrs. Eggers lived at the United Living Community, which was a favorite place for some of our visits (that facility was part of my paper route in Jr. Hi). We had some nice conversations with her during those special days.
For Veterans Day, the Brookings Register usually has a supplement that features some of the local residents that have served their country in the armed forces. Some of our parents have been featured in previous years: http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-greatest-generation.html, http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2019/11/91-fulfilling-years.html, http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2018/11/another-iron-horse.html, http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2015/11/blog-post_11.html, http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2011/12/pearl-harbor.html
Two of those that were featured this year may be individuals with whom we may be somewhat familiar. "Farmer, soldier, citizen" is the headline for an article about Mason Wheeler. He would be the husband of the English teacher that some of us had, Mrs. Janie Wheeler. Mason graduated from BHS in 1956 and SDSC in 1960 with history and political science degrees. Since he was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Army ROTC, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army, reporting to Ft. Hood, Texas (would that have been where he met his future wife?)
He spent a year in Korea, December, 1962 to December, 1963. He decided to resign his Regular Army commission to return to South Dakota and farm with his father and brother, but still owed Uncle Sam a few years of military service. He fulfilled that obligation by joining the South Dakota Army National Guard in August, 1964. Because he desired a promotion to colonel, he transferred to Army Reserve after several years, remaining in that post until August, 1992. Thus, he had 28 years of Guard and Reserve time and 3.5 years of active duty.
When he and his wife retired about 20 years ago, they moved into town (I believe they lived across the street from Edgebrook gold course). Mason continued to stay "employed" by driving truck for the farmers co-op and Mark Jensen Produce. I would often Mason and Janie at the library. In fact, the last time they were there, their son Charlie was with them. Charlie was helping his parents move out to the Black Hills area, where he lives, so that they could be nearer to him and his family. We wish them the best in their new environment. https://brookingsregister.com/article/farmer-soldier-citizen
"Citizen soldier, citizen solon" is the headline for Spencer Hawley, who was two years behind us in school. His father Wayne was a well-known insurance salesman in town, a business that Spencer also found appealing (he has spent 43 years as an account executive for American Trust Insurance). He, too, was commissioned a second lieutenant when he graduated from SDSU in 1975. The article says that ROTC was mandatory at that time. However, that is in error. ROTC was mandatory up through the 1968-69 school year. The first year it was optional was our first year there, 1969. Spencer had several assignments in Korea, and also spent time in Germany. After his commission was up, he spent 30 years in the Guard, and saw major changes in its operation. No longer would the Guard receive the Army's hand-me-down equipment or receive inadequate funding.
Spencer also served in the South Dakota House of Representatives for eight years, serving his last four years as House minority leader. https://brookingsregister.com/article/citizen-soldier-citizen-solon
