Alumni are invited to submit recent news of interest to others — marriage, job change, birth of a child, award, promotion, graduate school, retirement and so on — to the Office of Alumni Relations. Mail to 300 East 27th Street, North Newton, KS 67117, e-mail to alumni@bethelks.edu or submit via the Bethel website. Please model your information after the current listings below, beginning with name, class year, city and state.
Anyone who earns 24 or more credit hours is a Bethel alumnus, whether a graduate or not. When reaching alumni status, they are assigned a class year (later replaced by grad year if they graduate).
The year behind each name below is the person’s class year, often the same as the grad year unless the individual has told the alumni office that they wish to associate with another reunion year (as in the case of a five-year program, study overseas, etc., that delays graduation).
1950–59
Marlow Ediger ’53, North Newton, was reappointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Community Guidance and Research. The following of his writings have been accepted for publication: “Quality Teaching of Mathematics” in Education Magazine; co-author of “Curriculum and the School Teacher,” a university-level text published by Discovery Publishing House; “Student Vocabulary Development in Science” in the Michigan Science Teacher; “Sequence in the Social Studies” in the Journal of Instructional Biology; and “Motivating Students in the Science Curriculum” in the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Association of Ontario Journal. He is currently appraising Ph.D. theses for Archaya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna, India, by mail.
O. Karmie Galle ’57, Lawrence, received a Distinguished Service Award from the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies in 2012. For 40 years, Karmie used analytical science as part of the Kansas Geological Survey. He also volunteered and served others in many ways, including on boards and as an officer for FACSS. He was a charter member of the Kansas City Section of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and served as an officer in several capacities. He wrote the operational manual for FACSS and a handbook for officers and committee members of SAS. In 1990, SAS presented Karmie with its Distinguished Service Award.
T. James “Jim” Goering ’57, North Newton, is board chair for the North Newton Community Foundation and serves as a councilman for the city. He and his wife Shirley (Suderman) Goering ’57 have spent 12 summers teaching in China and have planned and hosted annual trips to China for the past 23 years. They are currently planning trip number 24.
William Regehr ’58 and Maurine (Voth) Regehr ’53, Hesston, have lived in the same house since 1966. Bill has been an elementary school teacher, including on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations. In 1975, he became the custodial supervisor at Hesston College, retiring after 21 years. Maurine gave piano lessons to elementary and intermediate students. They have three sons and a daughter, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Bob Regier ’52, North Newton, Bethel professor emeritus of art, and Judith Rempel Smucker ’78, Winnipeg, Manitoba, participated as guest designers in “Design to Build: Hands-on Exhibits Workshop,” a pre-conference session for the Kansas Museums Association conference in Newton last October.
Marian (Kleinsasser) Towne ’55, Indianapolis, contributed two chapters to the book Faith in the City, a centennial history of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis. She spoke on “Growing Up in a Mennonite Community” at Schmeckfest in Freeman, S.D., last March. Marian is the author of seven books, including Bread of Life: Diaries and Memories of a Dakota Family, 1936–1945 and Jacob Hutter’s Friends: 12 Narrative Voices from Switzerland to South Dakota over 4 Centuries, both of which are still for sale.
Don Zook ’51 Wichita, and his wife Natalie moved to Wichita after 18 years in Colorado. Last year they wintered in Arizona and traveled to New Jersey, Colorado, Oregon, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
1960–69
Gerald Dyck ’60, Assonet, Mass., recently completed a project that began at Bethel in 1958 in Professor Honora Becker’s memorable English Literature class. In 2012, he set to music, self-published and conducted three of his favorite poetic works from those Bethel days: Selected Quatrains from “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,” a choral song cycle that travels around the circle of fifths; Lines from Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” a dramatic monologue for baritone solo and piano; and Lines from Milton’s “Il Perseroso,” a mini-oratorio for SATB chorus, soloists and orchestra. Gerald is musical director of the Greater New Bedford (Mass.) Choral Society, which premiered the works.
Lauren Friesen ’67 is the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, Calif., where he received a master’s degree. He is currently David M. French professor of theater in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan-Flint. Lauren is also a recipient of the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for “Excellence in Theatre” and the Indiana Theatre Association’s award for his “Outstanding Contribution to University Theatre.” He has more than 30 published works to his name.
Jim Juhnke ’62, Wichita, served as a narrator and guide for a pre-conference tour titled “Mennonite Communities of South Central Kansas” when the Kansas Museums Association met in Newton last October. Andi Schmidt Andres ’84, Newton, curator of education at Kauffman Museum, joined Jim in leading the tour.
Bob Neufeld ’61, North Newton, was named an Association for Computing Machinery Senior Member, a member grade recognizing ACM members with at least 10 years of professional experience and five years of continuous membership who have demonstrated performance that sets them apart from their peers. ACM is widely recognized as the premier organization for computing professionals. Bob is a longtime member and is active in ACM’s Special Interest Group for Computer Science Education. He also serves on the national board of the Consortium for Computing Sciences, and completed two years as president and board chair in July 2012. CCSC sponsors 10 regional conferences across the United States each year that support faculty in effective use of computing in smaller institutions of higher learning. Bob is professor emeritus of computer science at McPherson College.
Leo W. Pauls ’62, Emporia, is development director at Emporia Christian School. He is responsible for fundraising, grant writing and marketing.
Janet (Klaassen) ’63 and Orvin ’64 Voth, Newton, adopted 14-year-old Jonathan Baloo Voth and 6-year-old Ian Baloo Voth on Dec. 20, 2012. The boys have been part of their lives and family since birth. The Bethel College Mennonite Church congregation participated in an adoption blessing on Sunday morning, Feb. 3.
Randy Zercher ’64, Houston, earned a doctorate in choral conducting in 1983 and has taught at Bethel College and Hesston College and conducted the Wichita Symphony and Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra. An ordained Methodist minister, Randy has served at East Heights United Methodist Church, Wichita, and at Westbury UMC, Houston, from which he retired in 2011. Randy and his wife Janette (Schrag) Zercher ’72 are active at St. Paul’s UMC in Houston.
1970–79
Harald Boschmann ’70, North Newton, retired from Newton Medical Center, where he served as a lab tech in the clinical laboratory for 42 years. The Newton Kansan ran a front-page feature about him Dec. 15, 2012.
Mark Christensen ’77, Punta Gorda, Fla., retired after 31 years with the Charlotte County school system. During that time, he served as a teacher, dean of students and assistant principal and coached several high school sports.
Marcene (Frey) ’73 and Thurman Entz ’73, Newton, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Entz family farm June 3, 2012. As part of the program, guests took a guided tour. Thurman and Marcene wore silver items that Thurman’s great-grandparents wore on their 25th wedding anniversary in 1896.
Greg Fast ’79, Moundridge, was recognized by students at Moundridge High School and Moundridge Middle School with the September 2012 “staff of the month” award. Greg teaches high school industrial arts and middle school computer science, technology and woodworking. He has taught for 33 years.
Dennis Flickner ’77, Newton, co-coached the Chisholm Middle School Science Olympiad team to first place in regional competition at Kansas State University-Salina on Jan. 16. The team participated in 23 contests to earn their first-place title.
Steve Friesen ’75, Littleton, Colo., gave three presentations in Kansas last fall: “Buffalo Who?” at the Kansas Museums Association annual meeting in Newton Oct. 26; “Buffalo Bill and Diversity” in the Bethel College Race and Ethnicity class Nov. 2; and “I Love to Tell the Story: The Sacred Role of the Secular Museum” at the Kauffman Museum Living Endowment Dinner the same day. Steve is director of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave and is active in museum circles as a presenter and consultant.
Curt Goering ’78, Minneapolis, Minn., is executive director of the Center for Victims of Torture, which seeks to advance human rights and build a future free from torture through research, training, advocacy and healing services for survivors. The center provides a bridge between torture victims, the local community and society as a whole, working to restore the dignity of the human spirit one survivor at a time.
Peter Goering ’77, Silver Spring, Md., a research toxicologist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, was recently named vice president-elect of the Society of Toxicology. His four-year term begins May 1. Peter will serve as president in 2015–16. The SOT is the largest professional and scholarly organization in toxicology, with more than 7,000 member scientists from academia, government and the private sector who practice toxicology in the U.S. and abroad. The organization promotes the scientific discipline of toxicology and its role in protecting human health and the environment.
Steve Grantstein ’75, Wichita, recently completed his 26th year of employment in nuclear medicine with Galichia Medical Group.
Gary Goertz ’76, Ann Arbor, Mich., is co-author of the book A Tale of Two Cultures: Qualitative and Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences (Princeton University Press, 2012). He collaborated with James Mahoney of Northwestern University. Gary is professor of political science at the University of Arizona.
Harold “Mackie” Mack Jr. ’76, Punta Gorda, Fla., retired after 37 years as a physical education instructor and coach with the Charlotte County school system. During that time, he taught at Punta Gorda Middle School for 35 years. Last August, the school honored Mackie by naming the school’s gymnasium after him. The principal surprised him with the announcement, and a number of fellow teachers and teammates were on hand for the ceremony. Mackie had been one of the top high school running backs in the state while playing at Charlotte High. He earned the titles “Mack the Knife” from the Miami Herald and “The Blond Bomber” from the Fort Myers News Press.
Robert Mayer ’73, Kansas City, Missouri, owns and operates MR Capital Advisors LLC. Robert is also adjunct professor of business at Park University, Parkville, Mo.
Jim Robb ’73, Moundridge, at-risk support staff person at Moundridge High School, received the impact award for October 2012. The winner was nominated by other teachers and staff members to recognize fellow educators who “go the extra mile.” Jim has been a teacher for 37 years, most recently for two years at Moundridge High.
Stan Senner ’73, Portland, Ore., was featured in the fall 2012 issue of Splash, the quarterly newsletter of Ocean Conservancy, for which he is director of conservation science. Among the highlights of his early career were work with the Wilderness Society and as a Congressional staffer on Capitol Hill. Starting in 1989, he worked for seven years as chief restoration planner and then science coordinator for the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. Stan joined Ocean Conservancy in 2009, working for two years on restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Stan is the author of more than 30 scientific papers.
Patricia Shelly ’76, Newton, professor of Bible and religion at Bethel, has been selected by the Leadership Discernment Committee of Mennonite Church USA as its nominee for moderator-elect. Delegates will vote on the nomination during the biennial assembly in Phoenix in July. Patty has been on the denomination’s Executive Board for eight years. If affirmed, she will serve two years as moderator-elect and two years as moderator and chair of the board.
Ann (Yoder) Showalter ’78, Newton, has retired from being a pastor. She lives at Presbyterian Manor, where she offers individual spiritual companionship. Ann is also a member of the Senior Players, a group that performs reader’s theater.
Judith Rempel Smucker ’78, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Bob Regier ’52, North Newton, Bethel professor emeritus of art, participated as guest designers in “Design to Build: Hands-on Exhibits Workshop,” a pre-conference session for the Kansas Museums Association conference in Newton last October.
Janette (Schrag) Zercher ’72, Houston, Texas, worked at Hesston College, Hesston Corporation, Excel Industries and Prairie View while the family lived in Kansas, then at the 600-bed Hermann Hospital in Houston. She retired from working with patient access at the Methodist Hospital-West Campus in 2012. Janette and her husband Randy Zercher ’64 are active at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston.
1980–89
Andi Schmidt Andres ’84, Newton, curator of education at Kauffman Museum, coordinated a pre-conference tour for the Kansas Museums Association “Mennonite Communities of South Central Kansas” when it met in Newton last October. Jim Juhnke ’62, Wichita, served as a narrator and guide. Andi also facilitated a session on “What’s For Sale: Museum Store Ins & Outs” and served on the conference local arrangements planning committee. KMA appointed Andi as regional representative to its board.
Cliff Dick ’81, North Newton, and Doug Siemens ’84, Newton, Bethel assistant professor of education, traveled to Hinche, Haiti, in January to explore learning opportunities for Bethel students. Their week-long trip follows an interterm trip led by Cliff; a trip in January 2012 during which Bethel student Chris Smith installed Lexia reading software in public and private schools in Hinche, made possible by Don Fast ’68, Newton, and his organization HUDDLE Learning, Inc., based in Basehor; and a nursing student trip in November 2012 led by Geri Tyrell ’07, assistant professor of nursing. Doug and Cliff talked to teachers in Haiti and heard the dream of Wildy Mulatre ’94, a health-care administrator in Hinche, of starting an English language school.
Donald Duncan ’88, Kenosha, Wis., is an academic advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Bernd Janzen ’88, University Park, Md., has been named a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Bernd is a member of the firm’s international trade practice, advising U.S. and foreign clients on a range of trade litigation proceedings, including antidumping, countervailing duty and trade preference proceedings. He also advises clients on matters before U.S. Customs and Border Protection, compliance with U.S. export control laws administered by the U.S. departments of Commerce and State and various trade policy matters before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other government entities.
David Kreider ’82, North Newton, Kauffman Museum technician, presented “Sticky Business – Tales About Tape” at a collections management session at the Kansas Museums Association conference in Newton last October.
Rachel Pannabecker ’80, North Newton, director of Kauffman Museum, presented “Becoming a Purpose-Driven Institution” with Carla Patterson of Mid-America Arts Alliance at the Kansas Museums Association conference in Newton last October. Rachel also served on the conference local arrangements planning committee.
Chuck Regier ’81, Newton, Joel Gaeddert ’06, North Newton, and Dee Harris of the National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City, led “Design to Build: Hands-on Exhibits Workshop,” a pre-conference session for the Kansas Museums Association in Newton last October. Bob Regier ’52, North Newton, and Judith Rempel Smucker ’78, Winnipeg, Manitoba, also participated as guest designers. Chuck is curator of exhibits at Kauffman Museum.
Larry Regier ’88, North Newton and business partner Lynette Juresic formally announced the formation of Regier and Juresic LLC Feb. 2. The new business is a full-service accounting firm serving the Wichita area.
Cindy (Stucky) Unruh ’88, McPherson, had two children’s books published in 2012: What to Expect When Your Family Becomes a Foster Family (PublishAmerica) and Sierra, the Black Lab Who Loved to Eat (A True Story) (PublishAmerica).
1990–99
Mario Boschmann ’98, Thornton, Colo., was selected as a member of the Leadership Forum council at Key Equipment Finance, Superior, Colo., last November. Mario co-leads the council’s initiative for the discussion of ethics, best corporate practices and leadership skills development.
Matt Caldwell ’94, Grand Prairie, Texas, moved from being CEO at Dallas Regional Medical Center in Mesquite, Texas, to serving as CEO at University Medical Center in Lebanon, Tenn.
Aaron Christopher ’99, Minneapolis, is executive producer at Augsburg Fortress Publishers.
Rod Garman ’90, Meriden, principal at North Fairview in the Seaman Unified School District, was named 2012 Elementary Principal of the Year last December. The award was given by the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals to recognize attributes such as leadership and how principals interact with their students.
Cara (Eshelman) Kliewer ’97, Wichita, created CK Communications in May 2012. As a consultant, she specializes in strategic communications planning, marketing and media/public relations for non-profit organizations and small businesses.
Rick McNary ’95, Potwin, is the author of the digital book Hunger Bites (Amazon Digital Services Inc., 2013). In it, Rick introduces people who have inspired him in his journey to providing practical solutions to the problem of world hunger. Initially driven by a promise to a Nicaraguan girl suffering from starvation, he draws from the insight and experience of people of all walks of life, from the wise matriarch of a Nicaraguan village to a three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ben Ortiz ’95, Austin, Texas, completed his master of arts in teaching degree from St. Edward’s University in December 2012. Ben continues as a math teacher and head strength and conditioning coach at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy.
Steve Parks ’97, Wichita, was one of only seven teachers recognized by the Wichita school district as a Distinguished Classroom Teacher for 2013. Steve is a math teacher at Heights High School. Peers, building administrators and parents nominated the teachers. A committee that includes principals, assistant principals, teachers, support staff, assistant superintendents and a member of United Teachers of Wichita selected the winners.
Chad Schilling ’96, Hesston, is research coordinator with the administrative team at Ag 1 Source/Career 1 Source.
William Schmidt ’96, Kansas City, is an associate attorney at Murray, Tillotson & Burton Chartered, Leavenworth, where he specializes in the areas of tax, business law, probate and estate planning and family law. He received the 2012 Pro Bono Award from the Kansas Bar Association.
2000–09
Greyson Barger ’01, Bel Aire, opened a vision clinic, Opticology Eyecare, in Wichita in January 2011. He provides vision exams to patients of all ages and has a passion for pediatrics.
Mambu Bayoh ’07, Newark, N.J., is a professional fashion and editorial photographer. Photos of Harlem are a special part of his work and portfolio. He plans to travel to Nigeria and Ethiopia to take more pictures, looking especially at the theme of Black emergence and cultural change.
Stefan Bielau ’00, Warsaw, Poland, is founder and CEO of Stefan Bielau Consulting, which helps companies achieve goals through media such as mobile phone content, apps, radio, mobile video and social media.
Doña Carriker ’06, Rochester, Minn., was recently awarded the Mayo Clinic Department of Nursing Individual Achievement Award
Michael Castro ’01, Goddard, is Flight RN/MICT Ground Operations manager for Lifeteam, Newton.
Joel Gaeddert ’06, North Newton, Chuck Regier ’81, Newton, and Dee Harris of the National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City, led “Design to Build: Hands-on Exhibits Workshop,” a pre-conference session for the Kansas Museums Association in Newton last October. Bob Regier ’52, North Newton, and Judith Rempel Smucker ’78, Winnipeg, Manitoba, also participated as guest designers.
Heidi Holliday ’06, Kansas City, Kan., is the new executive director of Rosedale Development Association, a non-profit community development corporation serving the Rosedale area of Kansas City and Wyandotte County. She moved into the position in September 2012 after serving as acting director. Previously, Heidi was the program manager for Rosedale’s Healthy Kids Initiative for three years. She is also studying non-profit management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Tiffany Huxman ’05, Hesston, joined the nursing staff of Prairie View, working as an APRN at the mental health center’s offices in Newton and west Wichita. Tiffany served as hospital coordinator and staff RN at Prairie View from 2005 to 2009.
Brett Klingenberg ’03, Beatrice, Neb., has been pastor of First Mennonite Church, Beatrice, since June 2011.
Megan (Klaassen) Kohlman ’08, Augusta, earned a master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University in December 2012. She is a sixth grade language arts teacher at Andover Middle School.
Robin (Heller) Montano ’08, Newton, began teaching English at Newton High School last fall. She continues coaching boys’ and girls’ soccer, as well.
Jesse Nathan ’05, San Francisco, has had a number of poems published in The Nation, jubilat, American Poetry Review and other magazines. His essays are published in Adbusters, Poetry International and Mennonite Quarterly Review, among others. Jesse is a founding editor of the new McSweeney’s Poetry Series, which is based in San Francisco and aims to publish three or four original single-author collections of poems annually. The first book in the series – Love, an Index by Rebecca Lindenberg (2012) – went into a second printing in less than a year. Jesse is also at work on a PhD in English literature at Stanford University.
Jodi (Rempel) Ostlund ’01, McPherson, is a nurse practitioner at Hutchinson Clinic.
Joseph Penner ’05, Salem, Ore., owns Steel Bridge Coffee, which – rain or shine – delivers whole bean coffee by bicycle throughout Salem and Keizer the day it was roasted. The company works with various suppliers to provide primarily certified fair trade and organic beans from Central and South America. It roasts the coffee beans in small batches using an American-designed Sivetz roaster, which uses convection air technology rather than a rotating drum and is manufactured in Corvallis, Ore.
Elizabeth Rempel ’05, Austin, Texas, is a social worker with a pilot program at the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Adam Schrag ’01, Fresno, Calif., is an assistant professor of communication at Fresno Pacific University.
Angela (Carriker) Schulz ’06, Gainesville, Fla., received a master’s degree in practical theology with an emphasis in counseling from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 2009.
2010–19
Amy (Wolf) Berry ’10, Hutchinson, is a children’s case manager at Horizons Mental Health.
Curlee Bishop ’12 , Elk Grove, Calif., is a youth development specialist graduate for Bay Area Youth Centers.
Joshua Nathan ’10, Los Angeles, completed a film and media studies degree with honors at the University of Kansas in May 2011. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked on several films released in 2012, including The Master, Lincoln and The Dark Knight Rises. His student film short, A Light Opera, won top honors at the 2011 KU Film and Media Studies Awards, and also won awards at several other Midwest film festivals. It is currently airing on cable TV’s Shorts International channel. Josh continues his studies on the life and times of Theodore Donald Kerabatsos.