WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU???

The Bismarck High School Class of 1981 quarterly update

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide a positive, safe and supportive environment for all classmates in which we can share our personal lives. The staff reserves the right to publish only information that we feel is within the supportive spirit of this newsletter. Information which we feel is intended to be negative, class polarizing, mean-spirited will not be published at this site. That is not the avenue we want to take with this newsletter. The staff.

Volume 63, January 2007

Jim Larsen has added a nice photo of himself and Corrine (McLean) Zerr added a nice shot of her and her husband, Dale. Leroy and Brenda (Jundt) Gross added a family photo, which includes their daughters and one boyfriend. Tom Gerhart has added some new photos to his personal album, which is called "Tom Gerharts and his families around the world adventures". You can also find a great picture of Roxann (Almer) Giles, Paula (McGarvey) Buchman and Sherry (Klein) Vanbeek, and Roxann and Leilani (Balkowitsch) Sackman as they enjoyed a little break from real life during Roxann’s visit home. Last but not least, Paula (McGarvey) Buchman shared a family photo, which was taken during her son’s wedding. They can all be found at our kodakgallery site in the album labeled, Classmates, 2006. Additional albums can be accessed by clicking the link, "My Recent Albums".

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Brenda Buck and Jeffrey DiGioacchino, they were married on Sept 17^th, in Kauai, Hawaii.

Congratulations to Tom Gerhart and his wife, Kim. Their 9^th blessing, a daughter Ellie, was born in New Delhi India on Nov 5^th, 2006 at 9:49.
Tom shared this report…Home water birth in the bathtub with the expert assistance of a Lithuanian midwife. Ellie was 6lbs 13oz. Both mom & baby our doing well." He also added some new photos to his BHS photo album.

Tammy (Eckroth) Haid also has news to share! Her son, Michael got married on September 30! He is also very busy going to nursing school right now so they didn’t take time for a honeymoon. She also shared that her daughter Sarah is attending University of Mary in the Physical Therapy program and that her youngest, Chad, is a 9^th grade at Wachter.  He was the goalie for BHS JV soccer team this year and was back up for Varsity.

Tammy (Schlinger) Siems has let us know that her youngest son, Chad, is graduating from NDSU this month with a degree in
Hotel, Motel, Restaurant, Management. In November he decided to work for the same life insurance Corey (her oldest) is working for,
American Life Insurance. Chad decided that this is the time in his life to try something new, to make sure restaurant business is for sure what
he wants to do for the rest of his life. Congratulations Chad and Tammy!

Tammie Zarfos, Todd Zarfos’s wife took a moment to share one of Todd’s most recent accomplishments! Here it is…."Todd is pretty humble and does not like to brag so I will tell you a couple of things that he has accomplished recently. Some of your classmates might be interested in knowing that he is in the 2007 issue of the Guinness Book of World Records. He was a part of the world record-breaking flight that Boeing had last year on the 777 Airplane. It is on page 201. We didn’t even know about it until my sister called me from Mandan and told me about it. Also, he was named Vice President of Airplane Productions over the summer. That’s a pretty big deal for a small town boy from North Dakota. Now that you know this you will have to get more information from him about his job. I know that he is in charge of all new production commercial airplanes and remodels of the existing commercial fleet." Awesome job Todd, make us proud!

On The Mend

Liz (Wicks) Kramer send us this update about her brother Tim in late November
Tim and Angie are back at Walter Reed.  Good news to report.  His first appointment was on December 1st with the orthopedic surgeon.   The shift in his pelvis is not severe enough to have to redo the surgery and he began bearing weight on both legs the following Monday and has now progressed to the treadmill.  He still needs the assistance of crutches and wheelchair for long distances, but is doing well.  Today he has an appointment with the neurosurgeon for evaluation of the brain injury, if cleared he will then be sent to Utah for an assessment to see if he is cleared to go back to his job duties, hopefully this will all be accomplished very quickly so they can be back home for Christmas. Update 12/15/06: Tim was cleared in regards to any issues inregards to his brain injury; he is now on his way to Utah for further assessment.

I again would like to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers during the last few months.  Without them I do not know if we would be where we are today.  Also, thanks to all who sent emails and cards.  

On a sad note, Tim's unit has recently suffered two more casualties.  On Thanksgiving Day, we lost another brave soldier, Nathan Goodiron, by a rocket propelled grenade.  His cousin (O'Berry from Mandaree) was slightly injured and another lost part of his leg (Floberg from Fargo) and is recovering at Walter Reed.  Then the following week Chris Kleinwachter from Wahpeton lost his life in a vehicle rollover while out on a mission.  Continued prayers are still needed for these families and all the troops and their families still serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I also have a nephew serving in the same unit.  We pray for their safe return home sometime in March 2007.

Special note to Roxann, you are in our thoughts and prayers every day.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!   
Liz (Wicks) Kramer

Paula (McGarvey) Buchman has given us an update on Roxann (Almer) Giles. She has let us know that Roxann continues to battle lung cancer with everything she has. She has begun a new chemo program, which is much harder on her physically, but in typically Roxann style she is maintaining a positive, upbeat, and fighting spirit! She was recently home and enjoyed her visit to Bismarck very much! She THANKS all of you for every card, prayer and positive thought that has been sent her way. They are all greatly appreciated and a day brightener for her and her family. She promises to keep fighting and will keep us posted of how she is doing.

LIFE HIGHLIGHTS

Mary (Fahlsing) Olsen ran for the Mandan treasure position in Nov., but unfortunately she did not win. Life moves on, Mary has chosen to stay in her position with the City of Mandan and is currently buying and remodeling a new home west of Mandan. She can’t wait to get settled as her new home, which has a lot of acres, and she will have the option to go riding whenever she chooses!

Chris Doeer-Wood has let us know that after 22 years at the law firm, she is calling it a career. She has decided to make a drastic change, quit her job and become the "soppy Mom who is into all Hayden’s business." Hayden starts pre-K this next year, and Chris decided it was time to stay home and do the mom thing! She is excited and looking forward to the big change, we wish her well!

Corrine (Zerr) McLean’s daughter Kayleigh has been working on a large research process for college. It is quite obvious after reading this story that she inherited Corrine’s smarts, and is on her way to a very successful career! Here is her story. http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1162066129/5

-NORTH DAKOTA FACTS-
In North Dakota, it is unlawful to serve beer and pretzels at the same time in any bar or restaurant.

According to FBI data, North Dakota was the safest place in the nation in 2004 and 2005.

The term flickertail refers to the Richardson ground squirrels, which are abundant in North Dakota.
The animal flicks or jerks its tail in a characteristic manner while running or just before entering its burrow.

North Dakota has more registered vehicles than it has residents.

New Salem North Dakota is home to Salem Sue, the world's largest Holstein Cow.
Standing 38 feet tall, Sue is 50 feet long and weighs some six tons.

The coastline around Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota is longer than the California coastline along the Pacific Ocean.

During the Lewis and Clark expedition, each of the men ate 9-12 pounds of meat per day while staying at Fort Mandan in order to stay warm.

The parking meter was invented in North Dakota.

Jamestown boasts the world's largest buffalo at 26 feet tall and 36 feet long. Weighing in at some sixty tons, the
concrete bison located at Frontier Village guards the grain elevator with its unblinking eyes.

North Dakota is the only state in the nation that has never had an earthquake.

North Dakota was the first state to complete its Interstate highway system.

North Dakota hosts almost fifty local and regional rodeos that attract hundreds of cowboys each year.

It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on in North Dakota.

10,000 years ago, the state's eastern edge was a vast glacial lakebed.

North Dakota has 60 wildlife refuges, which is more than any other state.

More ducks reproduce in North Dakota wetlands than anywhere in the nation.

North Dakota has more miles of road per capita than any other state with approximately 166 miles of road for every 1000 people.

If North Dakota seceded from the Union, it would be the world's third strongest nuclear power.

North Dakota has the highest number of millionaires per capita than any other state.

OUR SYMPATHIES

Our sympathies to Keith Mantz and his family. His father, Henry Mantz, passed away on October 11^th, in Bismarck.

Our sympathies to Janell (Bahmiller) Haid and her family. Her mother, Arlene Bahmiller passed away on Nov. 28^th in Bismarck.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

January Birthday's - Steve Pflipsen, Stephen Gilbert, Scott Westbrook, Randy St.Germain, Basil Hipple, Blaine Clausnitzer, Kelly (Soby) Broeckel, Lyle Schadler, Fred Harvey, Marla (Helm) Stockert, Marla (Backhaus) Anderson, Sheri Halbakken, Julie (Rask) Fladeland, Tammy (Eckroth) Roehrich, Kaaren (Chase) White, Jon Kaseman, David Becker, Jennifer (Haines) Skaar, Todd Zarfos, Liz (Tippett) Ketchum and Chris (Doerr) Wood.

February Birthday's - Todd McKinnon, Brenda (Buechler) LaFromboise, Pam (Eckroth) Schroeder, Curt Frieze, Mary (Kerzman) Rostad, Greg Johnson, Tammy (Lund) Reis, Kevin Nelson, Claire Gervias Blouin, Roxanne (Almer) Giles, Terri (Albrecht) Keller, Lisa Ilse, Mary (Kerzman) Rostad and Dana (Scheck) Becker.

March Birthday's - Duane Gross, Vonnie (Spier) Greinsteiner, Derrick Lindemann, Char (Beck) Garrett, Brad Wolfer, Sandy (Johnson) Johs, Pamela (Erhardt) Doll, Alan Bain, Eric Fernandez, Mark Roehrich, Kipper Wilson, Kelly (Malard) Anderson, Tim Oster,
Jody (Ismir) Lockwood, Chris Grondahl, Daniel Verhoeven, Don Nelson, Duane Staus,
Scott Beierle, Mary Falhsing, Liz Miller, Chuck Glaser.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!
We hope you have a wonderful day!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

January
Don and JoAnn Nelson - 22 years
Liz (Tippett) and Bob Ketchum - 23 years

February
Shari (Janke) and Steve Schmit - 11 years
Chris (Doerr) and Brian Wood - 14 years
Cheryl (Weichel) and Jim Streifel - 16 years
Rhonda (Levin) and Medardo Mendieta - 19 years
David and Yvonne Becker - 20 years

March
Jay and Lisa Yeager - 9 years!

HAVE A GREAT WINTER EVERYONE, SEE YA IN THE FALL!