“Family Reunion”
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LL U T H E R Cu O ll E G E AtL U M Nh I er & FRIENDS MAGAZINE FALL 2013 / WINTER 2014 STORY “Family Reunion” REGINA CANADA LUTHER LS STORY message from the editor It is hard to believe that Luther’s Without the dedication, centennial celebration has enthusiasm and determination already come and gone. As the of the committee members and 100th Anniversary liaison, the assistants, Luther College’s planning of the weekend was “family reunion” would not have on my mind both day and night run as smoothly as it did. These over the last year and a half (a individuals demonstrated their fact that my husband can attest commitment to, and love of, 1 4 to) and I can honestly say that the College and I am now more it wasn’t until a week after the than ever proud to say that I am event that I finally stopped having part of the Luther family. Please nightmares about not having make sure that you visit page enough room or food at the 33 to see the complete list of banquet. committee members, assistants and volunteers who helped make Looking back, the weekend Luther’s 100th Anniversary a 2 5 celebration reminded me of my success. wedding: utter chaos, worrying 1. Michelle Clark (U’04) and Kevin Gooding (HS’88, U’93) about that everything was ready I leave you now with a few of my still standing at the Presidents’ with the last minute details favourite moments captured Brunch on Sunday. completed literally minutes during the weekend when over 2. Dr Martin E Marty at the 38th before the big day, running 650 alumni, faculty, staff and Annual Luther Lecture on Thursday. 3. Jack Bowen and David Kaiser at here and there once the big friends of Luther College came the 38th Annual Luther Lecture on day arrived, being surrounded together to celebrate a century of Thursday. 3 by family and friends (many of faithfulness. 4. LCHS student, Jeffrey Fitzpatrick, whom I did not know were even at the Lions football game on Thursday. in attendance until I saw the 5. Karen (Larsen) Franchetto (HS’90) pictures afterwards), good food, Michelle Clark (U’04) with her daughter at the Presidents’ good music, lots of laughter, a Senior editor of The Luther Story Brunch on Sunday. few tears, and a room full of love. If you have a question or story Senior editor: Michelle Clark (U’04) idea to share, please contact us at: Editorial advisor: Lisa King (HS’83) Editorial board: Donna Grant (U’93), Gerry The Luther Story Hill, Trudy Kennedy, Jeanette Kuiper REGINA CANADAc/o Luther College at the Design: Bradbury Branding & Design University of Regina 3737 Wascana Parkway www.bradburydesign.com The Luther Story is the Regina, Saskatchewan The Luther Story is distributed by Canada magazine of the alumni and S4S 0A2 Canada Post under publication mail agreement friends of Luther College. [email protected] number 40065736. LUTHER STORY LS table of contents From the pulpit • 2 From the president • 3 Luther College “Family Reunion” • 4 Photo album • 14 Outsider’s perspective • 20 Luther flashback •21 Looking forward • 22 Did you know? • 24 Donor focus • 25 On campus • 26 Class notes • 28 President’s tour • 32 Thank you! • 33 •reunion • fellowship • centennial • laughter • embrace •reflection • celebration Dick Stark, former faculty member and Russ Husum (HS’72, U’76), alumnus and former faculty member. Cover image: 100th Anniversary quilt made by Joanne Hillis. LUTHER LS STORY message from the pulpit Our two chaplains share this issue’s column, reflecting on their experiences serving on the planning committee for our 100th Anniversary celebrations. Pastor Larry and Pastor Cheryl at the closing service on Sunday 13 October 2013. Pastor Cheryl: afternoon closing worship service. Pastor Larry: works produced helped move One of the biblical metaphors Old and new students, current The last few months leading up us beyond simply reminiscing to used to describe the Christian and retired staff and faculty sang to the anniversary weekend, reinforcing our College’s purpose community is that we are and listened and prayed together. when planning turned to actually and mission. I was reminded the body of Christ, a visible The talents God has nurtured, needing to get the work done, that excellence inspires and expression of Christ’s life in the faithfulness God has given, seemed onerous. Martin Marty motivates, thankful that I “get to” this time and place. During the the generosity God has inspired concluded his opening lecture create and work alongside faithful 100th Anniversary celebrations, could all be seen in the hundreds with a reminder from Martin colleagues. I saw the body of Christ visible of people worshipping together. Luther about the Christian in the community. At the When the Lord’s Prayer was said ethic, that life is not about “you In our preparation, we looked Saturday morning brunches, in some of the many languages gotta” but “you get to,” that through a lot of pictures from the former students talked about that are part of the current Luther an important anniversary is an early years. One of my favourites the formative experiences they community I could hear how opportunity to recognise grace is the 1926 photo of the had and the powerful care they global Christ’s body—and the received. Looking back, now that dedication of the main building in received at Luther. In the Archives Luther family—has become. The the work is over, it was an honour Regina. This classic brick building room, people pored over old multiplicity of languages told me to “get to” help shape some of the against the backdrop of prairie, photographs and memorabilia that God, who is faithful, is always weekend. model T’s, and newly planted as friends and colleagues were calling us beyond what we know trees seems to capture a hope remembered. I realised we are to what we can become. Who As we planned around our and optimism of that day, and a body of people joined across knows what the next hundred theme “Century of Faithfulness,” that our anniversary weekend decades and campuses by a years will bring! it seemed important to us to generated for me, and I hope, for common bond and a common emphasise God’s faithfulness others. heritage—a heritage rooted in the over our human efforts and vision of Christians who built a Pastor Cheryl Toth successes. However, a highlight school to better their community Chaplain, University campus for me was experiencing the Pastor Larry Fry one hundred years ago. wonderful creative work that Chaplain, High School campus That community, the body of was commissioned or assigned Christ, took shape in the Sunday for the weekend. The various 2 THE LUTHER STORY • FAll 2013 / WINTER 2014 LUTHER STORY LS message from the president I was so glad that the editorial But there is something special relationships renewed, and new committee of the Luther Story about Luther College that makes ones formed. decided to devote this issue to the it much more than a place to be 100th Anniversary celebrations educated or to live in residence I am extremely grateful not only held this past Thanksgiving or experience new things or to all the volunteers who put in weekend in Regina. And I was simply to work. And we saw so many hours to ensure the even more intrigued by the ‘family’ that in abundance at our 100th weekend ran as smoothly as it did theme that was decided upon for Anniversary celebrations. It but I’m at least as grateful to all this largely pictoral review of that really was a reunion of sorts with those who came back to celebrate weekend. A good celebration as many of the family returning and the many well-wishers who Karla (HS’09), deserves some reminiscing and as possible, with others not told us they wanted to attend Bryan (U’78), Joanne and Erin (HS’09) Hillis at the a chance for ‘family’ to share able to come because of other but couldn’t. I’m also grateful Celebration Banquet on pictures. commitments and still others for the efforts and dedication of Saturday evening at the deciding not to come because so- so many in the past who worked 100th Anniversary. The metaphor of ‘family’ has not and-so wasn’t going to be there. through so many difficult times to always been the most popular If that doesn’t sound like your keep this College prospering so metaphor for the sense of family, it sure sounds like mine. that all these relationships could community at Luther College. be formed and maintained and First, while most if not all of us But like a good family reunion, renewed and some even found who work here consider our we also saw a whole lot of people for the first time. While the family employment more of a vocation very happy to see one another. metaphor may be imperfect, than merely a job, and while most We saw new friends being made the recognition that God works of us truly enjoy the company of and reminiscing abounding. We through relationships, of those our fellow staffers, the fact is that saw alumni from long ago past near and far, of those past and there is nothing closer than family, meeting and visiting with the present, was very obvious to the ones you have chosen and the more recent graduates. We saw me at our 100th Anniversary ones you have inherited. Secondly, people making connections and celebrations. I am grateful to families do have their problems enjoying shared memories as all of you who make up Luther and we all know that when that portrayed in our archive room or College; I’m grateful to our Maker happens, the problems really do in the commissioned poem, music and Redeemer for enabling those turn our lives around.