Classmate Profiles
Sixty Plus years since we graduated!
Please create or update your biography.
Tell classmates about yourself! Click on "Add Your Profile" and fill out the form so that we have up-to-date contact information. You may also wish to add a short bio about what you've been up to the last 50 years. It's a great way to "reacquaint" ourselves with one another. Please note that there is a limit of 220 words - about 22 lines.
It's recommended that you not share upcoming vacation dates, day & month of your birth, financial information and other sensitive information on the internet.
Important: Your contact information will not be posted on the site (however, others will be able to send you an email if you include your email address in the setup information of your profile).
Some ideas when writing: Did you attend college/where? What do/did you do for a living? What kinds of things do you like to do for fun? Have you done any traveling? Any other thoughts/memories would be great too.
Don't forget to add a recent picture (can be individual, with significant other, family, etc.)! We will upload your yearbook picture for the "then" picture, but if you would prefer to use an alternative picture, you may do so as well. Just click "Edit Entry."
Our paths began as a blank page to be written on by experience. Our parents and friends escorted us down the path that curved and rose and fell shaping the person we are today. Like the proverbial moss we gathered acquaintances and life longfriends to traveldown our mutual paths. Each footway had epiphanous moments perhaps changing our path.
A pivotal event in our lives was graduation from our twelve years of education - from there we looked toward the future with hopes and dreams. Within this set of reflections are some of examples of how these dreams manifested themselves into fruition. Stories, memories, education, family, activism, etc. all of that brought us to here pondering is that all there is?
...pondering by Patricia Strot and Carolyn Turner; Photo by Loren Nelson
Sharen Dufresne Hilliard
Gary Ellis
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Comment: |
Steve Elm
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Enjoying Life |
| Comment: | I was born a poor black child at Fairview Hospital in Miinneapolis in 1942. In 1949, we moved to Richfield and my life changed forever.
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Jeffrey Erickson
Gerald Erickson
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Retired Army Officer |
| Comment: | I'm looking forward to the 50th reunion next year.Since graduation I spent several years in the Insurance business and at the same time enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard. I want through Officer Candidate School and was comissioned in 1966. I did a lot of different thing over the next few years, worked in a number of different sales fields, got married twice and had three great kids. I lived in Fargo, ND, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco Bay area, St Louis, MO and Washington, DC. In 1981 I had the chance to return to Active Duty in the Army and spent the next 12 years on Active Duty and served in the Gulf War 1990-1991. I retired from the Army in 1994 with 30 years total and went to work for the Army as civilian in the Pentagon. I married Deanna in 1996 and retired for the last time in 2005. We moved to Bremerton, WA where we are close to her family. My kids are all in the midwest with my oldest son in St Louis, my daughter in Minneapolis and my youngest son in Indianapolis. We have five grandchildren and one on the way. I have kept very busy since retirement with the Sons of Norway and serving as a Scout leader. We also travel a lot with trips to Norway and a couple of cruises along with many road trips around the country. We also canoe and Kayak in the summer and ski in the winter. |
Bob Erickson
| Marital status: | Single |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Comment: | After the State of Minnesota wouldn't give Sandy (Thoresen) and I another marriage license (two must be the limit), we elected to go our seperate ways. While attending Minnesota School of Business to become a Court Reporter, I had the urge to start my own business. The first was a Carpet Cleaning Service. The second was a Fire Alarm Distribution company. Both were a great learning experience and switched me from a Democrat to a Conservative. Now I had the sales bug and took a position in the Automotive Aftermarket as a National Sales and Marketing Manager traveling the U.S. and Canada. This gave me the opportunity to call on "all major Retailers" including automotive chain stores. A move to Washington D.C., Chicago and back to Minnesota was also a learning experience. Building my dream home on Prior Lake in 1983 made it all worth while. After 11 years traveling 100,000 miles per year, I had another calling to start my own business again and opened an international franchise in Burnsville called "FastFrame". After 11 years, I sold the business and semi-retired. Like Doug Barton, I entered the entertainment industry working with BOBBY VEE'S old backup band. I created an "Elvis Memories Tour" along with "A Legends from the Heartbreak Hotel Tour" under the stage name of BOBBY E. Performing as an Elvis and Buddy Holly impersonator, it was the most natural high I've ever had (except for White Castles). We worked the Five State area playing primarily Casino's which gave me an opportunity to meet and work with artists such as the Drifters. This opened the door to be on "Bob Yates Radio Show", "Good Company with Steve and Sharon", a commercial for Twin Cities Boot and Leather, a Great Clips commericial and a Timberwolves game on ESPN. It all ended on a high note when I was asked to be in a book with 60 other impersonators that went INTERNATIONAL called I AM ELVIS (not really). In 2003 after 15 years, I hung up my jump suits and Buddy Holly outfit. ) I sold my home in Prior Lake in 2003. Then moved to Bullhead City, (no it's not a fish) Arizona located on the Arizona West Coast across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada. I formally retired. Today, my biggest decisions are, what color shorts and T-shirts do I want to wear and checking the refrigerator for the proper inventory of Corona's. Thank You, Very Much. BOBBY E |
Carol Ewing (Custis)
| Marital status: | Divorced |
|---|---|
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Meeting Planner |
| Comment: | After graduating from Richfield I attended the University of Minnesota, I met my husband and we were married one week after college graduation. We lived in San Antonio, TX and Dayton, OH where I taught special education. In 1968 we returned to MN. We were very fortunate to live on Lake Minnetonka for 19 years before moving to a suburb of Hartford, CT. I am blessed to have three wonderful children and 10 fabulous grandchildren all who live on the East Coast. In April I retired from being a professional meeting planner. I planned many conferences and was able to travel a great deal. I still plan to travel in retirement. I have been to China, Spain, France and England with plans to go to Israel this fall and Australia next April. I love traveling in the US and visiting with my family in the Midwest. I am able to spend a great deal of time at my son’s on Cape Cod also. I enjoy reading and book clubs, church activities, exercising, tennis and walking. For 17 years I have sung in Sweet Adelines. However, the highlight of my life is being with my grandchildren!!! |
Betsy Farness (Betsy Farness)
| Occupation: | retired teacher |
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| Comment: | I graduated from the U of M in 1964 and started teaching high school physical education. During that time I traveled quit a bit and continued with my hobbies of knitting and stitching. I retired in 1999 after 35 years of teaching. Now I get to knit, stitch and read all the time. Lots of time to travel and spend time with my friends and two faithful dogs, Rosie and Lucy. Excited to see all my "old" high school friends. |