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From State Magazine Summer 2026 - View Full Issue >

Births

• Adam ’01 and Marcy (Arnoldi) ’00 Heemeyer, a girl, Conway, born March 2, 2026. They reside in Marshall, Minnesota. 
• Adam ’09 and Ali (Koopmans) ’09 Fritz, a girl, Charley, born July 10, 2025. They reside in Colman. 
• Adam Day ’18 and Jill Folsland ’18, a girl, Malcolm, born Nov. 25, 2025. They reside in Flandreau. 
• Ashley (Larson) ’20 and Carter Cook, a girl, Lily, born July 10, 2024. They reside in Springfield, Minnesota. 
• Blair (Long) ’15 and Tyler Hoffman, a boy, Bridger, born Aug. 30, 2025. They reside in Mount Sidney, Virginia. 
• Breck ’19 and Jasmine (Bonnema) ’18 Erickson, a boy, Stetson, born Feb. 10, 2025. They reside in Blomkest, Minnesota. 
• Brock ’18 and Jennifer (Vipond) ’18 Tillma, a boy, Porter, born Sept. 6, 2025. They reside in Twin Brooks. 
• Cameron ’21 and Erin (Foth) ’19 Kuil, a boy, August, born Aug. 21, 2025. They reside in Pierre. 
• Carly (Meister) ’22 and Michael Richards, a girl, Eleanor, born Dec. 8, 2025. They reside in Marcus, Iowa. 
• Derek ’24 and Lizzy Kocer, a girl, Lilliana, born Feb. 8, 2026. They reside in Brandon. 
• Derrick ’21 and Lenaya (Kvale) Timm, a girl, Olive, born May 16, 2025. They reside in Watertown. 
• Douglas ’17/M.S. ’20 and Candace (Pedersen) ’19 Fiedler, a girl, Holly, born May 28, 2024. They reside in Brookings.
• Ella (Hand) ’23 and Shea Connot, a boy, Dansby, born Oct. 4, 2025. They reside in Winner. 
• Emily (Schmidt) ’13 and Jeremy Huot, a boy, William, born April 8, 2025. They reside in Rapid City. 
• Erika (Crotteau) Jordan ’18, a boy, Colter, born Sept. 20, 2025. They reside in Spearfish. 
• Evan ’14/M.S. ’16 and Taylor Almberg, a boy, Hudson, born Dec. 31, 2025. They reside in Woodland Park, Colorado. 
• Grace (Beyers) ’23 and Jonathan Grismer, a girl, Wrenley, born Nov. 21, 2025. They reside in Bowdle. 
• Haley (Mendel) ’21/Pharm.D. ’23 and Lane Smit, a boy, Lincoln, born Oct. 7, 2025. They reside in Lennox. 
• Hayley (Spitzer) ’18 and Mackenzie Johnson, a girl, Adele, born Nov. 18, 2025. They reside in Groton. 
• Henry ’16 and Jazmin (Wubben) ’17 Goeden, a girl, Delaney, born Nov. 6, 2025. They reside in McLean, Nebraska. 
• Jacob ’18 and Rachel (Stancer-Prokop) ’18 Robinson, twin girls, Aubrey and Robbie, born Oct. 3, 2025. They reside in Milbank. 
• Jacob Paulsen ’22 and Sidonia Trio ’22, a boy, Levi, born Feb. 5, 2026. They reside in Arlington. 
• Jared ’15 and Shannon (Reynolds) ’15 Christopher-Holt, a girl, Hadley, born Dec. 17, 2025. They reside in Sioux Falls. 
• John ’19 and Tessa (Kopren) ’18 Zastrow, a boy, Dean, born Dec. 4, 2025. They reside in Rapid City. 
• Khilendra M.S. ’15 and Anna Bhanduriya, a girl, Meera, born Jan. 5, 2026. They reside in Chittenango, New York. 
• Laura (Panuska) ’24 and Dustin Ternus, a girl, Anastasia, born Jan. 12, 2026. They reside in Humphrey, Nebraska. 
• Leah (Bunkers) ’19 and Thomas Doeden, a girl, Haislann, born Sept. 26, 2025. They reside in Sibley, Iowa. 
• Leesa (Johnson) ’03 and Jack Carpenter, a boy, Oliver, born Oct. 7, 2025. They reside in Aurora, Colorado. 
• Luke ’11 and Jenna Bunkers, a boy, Bryson, born Jan. 16, 2026. They reside in Huxley, Iowa. 
• Madison (Dulas) ’21 and Justin McLaughlin, a girl, Sutton, born July 30, 2025. They reside in Oronoco, Minnesota.
• Megan (Bergemann) ’11 and Taylor Morgan, a boy, Larkin, born Nov. 21, 2025. They reside in Trimont, Minnesota. 
• Megan Farnham ’17, a boy, Eli, born Aug. 13, 2024. They reside in Mitchell. 
• Mikayla (Bonnet) ’19 and Landon Anderson, a boy, Lance, born March 19, 2025. They reside in Bristol. 
• Mikayla (Frederick) ’18 and Jacy Norgaard, a girl, Norlena, born April 27, 2025. They reside in Harrisburg, North Carolina. 
• Paul ’16 and Jessica (Alves) Jacobson, a girl, Isabel, born Jan. 8, 2026. They reside in Long Island City, New York. 
• Rachel (Goetz) ’18 and Dalton Montileaux, a girl, Isla, born Nov. 10, 2025. They reside in Watertown. 
• Riley ’18 and Michaela Berggren, a daughter, Dot, born Dec. 27, 2025. They reside in Mitchell. 
• Roscoe ’16 and Lauren Rice, a girl, Lily, born March 4, 2025. They reside in Olathe, Kansas. 
• Sally (Peterson) ’19 and Jacob Meyers, a boy, Howard, born Jan. 31, 2026. They reside in Linn Grove, Iowa. 
• Seth ’19 and Alexis (Nepple) ’19 Gutz, a boy, Baylor, born Feb. 22, 2024. They reside in Osmond, Nebraska. 
• Shannon (Egan) ’19 and Jayden Howie ’17, a boy, Henry, born Jan. 14, 2023. They reside in Cologne, Minnesota. 
• Spenser ’14 and Erica (Coomes) ’14 Olson, a girl, Hallie, born Oct. 3, 2025. They reside in Sioux Falls. 
• Sterling ’18 and Mahalia (Olson) ’16 Kappes, a girl, Scottie, born April 11, 2025. They reside in Brookings. 
• Tyler ’17 and Ruth Robertson, a boy, Mason, born Dec. 5, 2025. They reside in Madison. 
• Wade ’23 and Shariah Begeman, a girl, Piper, born July 15, 2025. They reside in Sioux Falls. 
• William ’19 and Samantha (Meyer) ’19 Murray, a girl, Margot, born Nov. 7, 2025. They reside in Rochester, Minnesota. 

Deaths

• 1942 (Aggie) Ruth (Hieb) Winter of Huron, Nov. 21, 2025. 
• 1948 Florine (Lee) Glaus of Chamberlain, March 23, 2026. 
• 1950 Beverly A. (Bergheim) Hayden of Emmetsburg, Iowa, Dec. 24, 2025. 
• 1950 Grace M. (Halvorson) Wangberg of Brookings, Feb. 19, 2026. 
• 1951 Eloise (Letcher) Hogue of Longwood, Florida, Nov. 5, 2025. 
• 1951 Marlys I. (Schiefelbein) Moore of Brookings, Dec. 17, 2025. 
• 1951/’57 Gene J. Pollman of Ames, Iowa, Nov. 29, 2025. 
• 1951/M.S. ’58 David Billman of Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 16, 2026. 
• 1952 Betty (Crouse) Larson of Bozeman, Montana, Feb. 8, 2026. 
• 1952/M.S. ’57 Harry A. Geise of Rapid City, Nov. 13, 2025. 
• 1953 (Aggie) Donald B. Friese, of Marshall, Minnesota, Feb. 4, 2026. 
• 1953 Allen M. Anderson of Lakeville, Minnesota, Jan. 9, 2026. 
• 1954 Bruce H. Kidman of Rochester, Minnesota, Jan. 9, 2026. 
• 1954 Leona "Lee" (Serbousek) Tolstedt of Helena, Montana, March 31, 2026. 
• 1954 Patricia L. (Mann Tarbell) Michels of Yankton, Feb. 28, 2026. 
• 1955 Donald W. Hecht of Hutchinson, Minnesota, March 23, 2026. 
• 1956 Edward S. Crozier Jr. of Burnsville, Minnesota, Dec. 11, 2025. 
• 1956 Lenore M. Paulsen of Roseburg, Oregon, Jan. 5, 2025. 
• 1956 Marjorie A. (Nelson) Desmond of Prattville, Alabama, Feb. 18, 2026. 
• 1956/M.S. ’59 Roger Winans of Omaha, Nebraska, June 13, 2025. 
• 1957 Donald E. Lewis of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, Jan. 25, 2026. 
• 1957 Dorothy D. (Meyer) Travnicek of Hampton, New Hampshire, Jan. 4, 2026. 
• 1957 Leo E. Osbeck of Albert Lea, Minnesota, March 10, 2026. 
• 1957 Marilyn (LaBrie) Melkerson of Schaumburg, Illinois, March 13, 2026. 
• 1958 Arlys M. (Ziegler) Eilts of St. Paul, Minnesota, Dec. 4, 2025. 
• 1958 C. Emmett Foster of Brookings, Jan. 11, 2026. 
• 1958 Delores "Dee" A. (Linaman) Ginsbach of Sisseton, Feb. 28, 2026. 
• 1958 Floyd V. Dimick of Platte, Nov. 15, 2025. 
• 1958 Henry S. Kuga of Renton, Washington, Oct. 24, 2024. 
• 1958 Howard Easton of Green Valley, Arizona, Jan. 23, 2026. 
• 1958 James McMurtry of Kempner, Texas, Nov. 30, 2025.
• 1958 Morrell A. Spencer of Lake Norden, Nov. 11, 2025. 
• 1958 William Anderson of Sioux Falls, Nov. 26, 2025. 
• 1958/M.S. ’62 Frederick J. Rittershaus of Brookings, Nov. 19, 2025. 
• 1959 (Aggie) David Symens of Andover, Minnesota, March 16, 2026. 
• 1959 Ernest Rivinius of Broomfield, Colorado, Feb. 25, 2026. 
• 1959 John W. Peterson Jr. of Burke, Virginia, March 3, 2026. 
• 1959 Lyle D. Solem of Rochester, Minnesota, Nov. 30, 2025. 
• 1959 Melvin Simek of Mitchell, March 12, 2026. 
• 1959 William A. Cone of Brookings, Dec. 27, 2025. 
• 1960 (Aggie) David Gullickson of Brookings, Feb. 20, 2026. 
• 1960 (M.S.) James L. Welton of Leawood, Kansas, Jan. 16, 2026. 
• 1960 Arlene M. (Lyle) Wells of Bellevue, Nebraska, Jan. 8, 2026. 
• 1960 Darel W. Boerner of Winner, March 1, 2026. 
• 1960 Douglas H. Killam of Wilder, Idaho, March 1, 2026. 
• 1960 Janet R. (Thornburg) Voas of Plum, Pennsylvania, March 3, 2026. 
• 1960 Lois L. (Anderson) Massa of Custer, Feb. 22, 2026. 
• 1960 Mason Wheeler of Sturgis, March 19, 2026. 
• 1961 (M.Ed.) Alvin J. Mudder of Avon, Jan. 14, 2026. 
• 1961 Arnold “Barney” Helland of Billings, Montana, Feb. 10, 2026. 
• 1961 Cyril Frick of Sequim, Washington, Oct. 3, 2025.
• 1961 Margaret (Apland) Johnson of De Smet, Jan. 5, 2026. 
• 1961 Patricia L. (Barlund) Tigert of Vermillion, March 5, 2026. 
• 1961 Paul L. Massey of Freeman, Jan. 2, 2026. 
• 1961/M.Ed. ’65 William H. Wiederich of Huron, Jan. 23, 2026. 
• 1962 Aaron A. Swan of Pierre, Nov. 15, 2025. 
• 1962 Donald R. Larsen of Browns Valley, Minnesota, Jan. 6, 2026. 
• 1962 Elsie M. (Larson) Black of Germantown, Tennessee, Nov. 16, 2025. 
• 1962 Esther M. (Fauske) Schrunk of Marshall, Minnesota, Jan. 29, 2026. 
• 1962 Jack W. Olsen of Williams, Arizona, July 27, 2025. 
• 1962 James A. Even of Sioux Falls, Jan. 6, 2026. 
• 1962 John W. Bonefas of Safford, Arizona, Feb. 22, 2026. 
• 1962 Robert G. Bawdon of Rapid City, Nov. 21, 2025. 
• 1962 Sharon R. (Fellbaum) Kinden of Columbia, Missouri, Oct. 24, 2025. 
• 1963 Gene S. Harstad of Alexandria, Minnesota, Nov. 28, 2025. 
• 1963 Keith R. Smith of Owasso, Oklahoma, June 21, 2024. 
• 1963 Merlyn Johnson of Sioux Center, Iowa, Jan. 7, 2026. 
• 1963 Noel E. Stratmoen of Northfield, Minnesota, Nov. 20, 2025. 
• 1963 Orval B. Gubrud of Canby, Minnesota, Dec. 26, 2025. 
• 1963 Robert Green of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, March 22, 2026. 
• 1963 Robert J. Jacobus of Lakeville, Minnesota, Dec. 24, 2025. 
• 1964 Arden Mackenthun of McHenry, Illinois, Feb. 4, 2026. 
• 1964 Donald V. Barnett of Littleton, Colorado, Jan. 12, 2026. 
• 1964 George A. Auer of Spearfish, Jan. 8, 2026. 
• 1964 George Breidenbach of Mitchell, Feb. 9, 2026. 
• 1964 Sergio Escutia Monrroy of Mazatlan, Mexico, Jan. 28, 2026. 
• 1965 (M.S.) Tek Chand Goel of Bellevue, Washington, Sept. 15, 2025. 
• 1965 Larry Schoenhard of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Dec. 27, 2024. 
• 1965 Richard D. Sleep of Spearfish, Jan. 27, 2026. 
• 1965 Thomas E. Pederson of Sioux Falls, Dec. 19, 2025. 
• 1965/M.S. ’70 Marv Sherrill of Watertown, March 25, 2026. 
• 1966 Allan Dovre of Minneota, Minnesota, Feb. 22, 2026. 
• 1966 Joseph F. Zygmont of Killingworth, Connecticut, July 6, 2025. 
• 1966 Kenneth D. Knuth of Slayton, Minnesota, Nov. 30, 2025. 
• 1966 Orville B. Smidt of Brookings, Dec. 23, 2025. 
• 1966 Ronald Bolduan of Aberdeen, Feb. 17, 2026. 
• 1967 (M.Ed.) Dale A. Weber of Sioux Falls, Feb. 27, 2026. 
• 1967 (M.Ed.) Gordon H. Cornwall of Estherville, Iowa, Jan. 5, 2026. 
• 1967 Carol L. (Fredrikson) Pearson of Brownsburg, Indiana, Sept. 21, 2025. 
• 1967 Dean B. Nielsen of Sioux Falls, Nov. 17, 2025. 
• 1967 Richard C. Lounsbery of Milbank, Dec. 22, 2025. 
• 1968 Betty (McIlvary) Bohlander of Sugar Grove, Illinois, Dec. 1, 2025. 
• 1968 Jerome L. Keenan of Watertown, Jan. 1, 2026. 
• 1968 Joel Houtman of Grass Valley, California, Nov. 3, 2025. 
• 1968 John Meisch Jr. of Waconia, Minnesota, Dec. 26, 2025. 
• 1968 Julene K. (Hellmann) Swenson of Stillwater, Minnesota, Feb. 13, 2026. 
• 1968 Kathryn L. (Croll) Stobbs of Shakopee, Minnesota, March 20, 2026. 
• 1969 (M.Ed.) Alan Johnson of Sioux Falls, March 25, 2026. 
• 1969 Howard J. Sigaty of Brookings, Dec. 3, 2025. 
• 1969 Wanda F. (Bartels) Wirtz of Brookings, March 7, 2026. 
• 1969/M.Ed. ’70 Glen D. Bren of Sioux Falls, Feb. 13, 2026. 
• 1970 (M.Ed.) Clifton Sutton of Flandreau, Feb. 27, 2026. 
• 1970 (M.S.) Jerome C. Fiedler of Brookings, Dec. 25, 2025. 
• 1970 John W. Maxwell of North Aurora, Illinois, March 16, 2026. 
• 1970 Kenneth Biteler of De Smet, Feb. 17, 2026. 
• 1971 (M.Ed.) Dennis W. Krier of Sioux Falls, Jan. 31, 2026. 
• 1971 (M.Ed.) Lonnie “Phil” Cowherd of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Dec. 20, 2025. 
• 1971 (M.S.) Frank J. Nolan of Cato, New York, Dec. 24, 2025. 
• 1971 David Dinger of Hecla, Nov. 23, 2025. 
• 1971 Jerry Gran of Sioux Falls, Nov. 21, 2025. 
• 1971 Robert D. Erick of Hamilton, Montana, Nov. 22, 2025. 
• 1971 Susan M. (Martian) Meier of Verona, Wisconsin, March 16, 2026. 
• 1972 Jeanne M. Swenson of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Nov. 28, 2025. 
• 1972 Klare H. Schroeder of Rapid City, Nov. 18, 2025.
• 1972 Mary C. (Hall) Gengerke of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Jan. 8, 2026. 
• 1972 Michael J. Coulter of Sioux Falls, Nov. 29, 2025. 
• 1972 Tim Frisbee of Bowling Green, Kentucky, March 28, 2026. 
• 1972 Vernon P. Voelzke of Brookings, Nov. 11, 2025. 
• 1973 (M.Ed.) Lawrence L. Furney of Arlington, Dec. 12, 2025. 
• 1973 Arlen Wallum of De Smet, March 2, 2026. 
• 1973 Gary N. Crosby of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Nov. 10, 2025. 
• 1973 Margie A. Garner of rural McCook County, Dec. 29, 2025. 
• 1973 Nancy Foss of Cook, Minnesota, Sept. 27, 2025. 
• 1973 Ralph Erickson of Humboldt, Nov. 23, 2025. 
• 1973 Scott R. Schelske of Tripp, Dec. 5, 2025. 
• 1974 (M.S.) Alice M. (Bisping) Gehrke of Brookings, Feb. 9, 2026. 
• 1974 Darwin L. Egeberg of Madison, Dec. 27, 2025. 
• 1974 Janice M. Bertsch of Menno, May 15, 2025. 
• 1974 Neil D. Olsen of Denton, Texas, Feb. 9, 2026. 
• 1974 Nickolas Plooster of Leavenworth, Kansas, Feb. 11, 2026. 
• 1974/M.Ed. ’89 Brenda Moerke of Durham, North Carolina, Feb. 2, 2026. 
• 1974/M.S. ’78 Fred A. Tidemann of Rosendale, Wisconsin, Jan. 31, 2026. 
• 1975 Stephen A. Fagerness of Sioux Falls, Jan. 21, 2026. 
• 1975 Elaine A. (Kohler) Schultz of Forest City, Iowa, Feb. 4, 2026. 
• 1975 James B. Moritz of Garretson, Dec. 3, 2025. 
• 1975 Terence “Stick” Janssen of Emery, Feb. 23, 2026.
• 1976 James S. Fowkes of Watertown, Nov. 20, 2025. 
• 1976 (M.Ed.)/M.Ed. ’80 Robert Grebel of Bristol, March 14, 2026. 
• 1977 Chuck Wirth of Hurley, Nov. 25, 2025. 
• 1977 Eugene E. Moeller of California, Missouri, Jan. 22, 2026. 
• 1977 Sydna L. (Riedesel) Cheever of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 18, 2026. 
• 1977/M.Ed. ’86/M.S. ’92 Peggy L. Phelps "Wambli Oihanbla Win" of Rapid City, Feb. 9, 2026. 
• 1978 John H. Bonham of Springfield, Minnesota, Dec. 12, 2025. 
• 1978 June (Johnson) Mahr of Olympia, Washington, March 27, 2025. 
• 1979 Lawrence Shaw of Lucas, Iowa, Feb. 10, 2026. 
• 1979 Richard F. Brandes of South Sioux City, Nebraska, March 9, 2026. 
• 1979 Richard Volin of Brookings, Jan. 22, 2026. 
• 1980 Deborah A. Gilbertson of San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 13, 2026. 
• 1981 David Hepper of Big Stone City, Feb. 18, 2026. 
• 1983 (M.Ed.) Larry D. Holland of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Nov. 18, 2025. 
• 1983 Dana G. Fravel of Sioux Falls, Nov. 25, 2025. 
• 1983 Karl J. Oravetz of Arlington, Dec. 3, 2025. 
• 1983 Scott Jorgensen of Sioux Falls, Feb. 1, 2026. 
• 1983 Sharon (Hexem) Vettrus of Hendricks, Minnesota, Feb. 3, 2026. 
• 1984 (M.Ed.) Johanna (Stover) Halgren of Broomfield, Colorado, Dec. 20, 2025. 
• 1984 (M.S.) Kenneth R. Spear of Pickerington, Ohio, Dec. 8, 2025. 
• 1984 Dr. David R. Hirschauer of Odessa, Florida, March 7, 2026. 
• 1984 Leah A. (Marg) Benson of Brookings, Feb. 23, 2026.
• 1984/M.S. ’86 Darnell A. Nehlich of Vermillion, March 18, 2026. 
• 1985 Ronald A. Goeken of Corsica, Feb. 10, 2026. 
• 1986/M.S. ’89 Andrew G. Kalmbach of Rapid City, March 18, 2026. 
• 1987 (M.Ed.) Patrick Mullen of Madison, March 31, 2026. 
• 1988 (M.S.) Elizabeth A. (Cota) Kosse of St. Joseph, Missouri, Nov. 15, 2025. 
• 1988 Carmen R. (Bjerke) Burns of Winter Garden, Florida, Sept. 18, 2024. 
• 1988 David L. Tenneboe of Sioux Falls, Dec. 15, 2025.
• 1988 Karla B. (Judkins) Puthoff of Huron, Feb. 23, 2026. 
• 1988 Thomas E. Delaney of Brookings, Feb. 13, 2026. 
• 1989 (M.Ed.) Kathleen A. (O'Donnell) McGreevy of Sioux Falls, Nov. 17, 2025. 
• 1989 (M.S.) Dr. Alex W. Van Amerongen of Lebanon, Illinois, March 18, 2026. 
• 1989 Janet C. (Smith) Brage of Watertown, Dec. 23, 2025. 
• 1990 (M.Ed.) Joanne S. (Thompson) Winter-Chaser of Rapid City, Jan. 21, 2026. 
• 1990 Sherry K. (Williams) Landrum of North Mankato, Minnesota, Feb. 9, 2026. 
• 1990/M.Ed. ’06 Amy B. (Johnson) Pedersen of Brookings, March 5, 2026. 
• 1991 Rhonda J. Weisser of Rapid City, Nov. 23, 2025. 
• 1992 Joe G. Griffith of Alcester, Feb. 7, 2026. 
• 1993/M.A. ’95 Amy L. (Siebring) Jurrens of George, Iowa, March 22, 2026. 
• 1993 Stacey J. (Stillson) Goetz of Rochester, Minnesota, Jan. 17, 2026. 
• 1994 Arla C. (Brown) Holden of Brookings, Feb. 6, 2026. 
• 1995 (Ph.D.) Patricia A. (Miller) Joffer of Brookings, Dec. 18, 2025. 
• 1995 Wendy (Brinkman) Ruano of Watertown, March 3, 2026. 
• 1996 (M.S.) Connie M. (Pederson) Burdick of Brookings, Dec. 22, 2025. 
• 1996 Ricky O. Svennes of Wausau, Wisconsin, Jan. 23, 2026. 
• 1997/’98 Patrick Honner of Dakota Dunes, Feb. 22, 2026. 
• 1999 Nicole Seefeldt of Easton, Pennsylvania, Jan. 29, 2026. 
• 2000 Lolita “Lita” (Kotalik) Wells of Yankton, Nov. 11, 2025. 
• 2000 Tori M. Appelhof of Lakeville, Minnesota, March 18, 2026. 
• 2001 Russell G. Wuertzer of Boston, Massachusetts, Nov. 25, 2025. 
• 2002 Amber E. (Mack) Bankhead of Houston, Texas, Dec. 12, 2025. 
• 2004 (M.Ed.) JoAnn (Grave) Ullery of Burnet, Texas, Jan. 15, 2026. 
• 2004 Colleen R. (Rieckman) Brown of Aurora, Nov. 8, 2025. 
• 2006 (honorary) Henry Ditterich of Vergas, Minnesota, Dec. 22, 2025. 
• 2008 Jermiah Langdon of Sioux Falls, Feb. 23, 2026. 
• 2009 (M.Ed.) William Bennett of Sioux Falls, March 19, 2026. 
• 2015 Dr. Bryce D. Brandt of Sioux Falls, March 12, 2026. 
• 2016 Seth A. Rozeboom of Garretson, Dec. 26, 2025. 
• Faculty Bruce Lushbough of Rochester, Minnesota, March 28, 2026. 

General

1961/M.S. ’69 Sharon (Lohr) DeVaney was named Professor Emeritus by Purdue University, where she served as faculty from 1993-2008. She resides in Sioux Falls. 

1982/M.A. ’89 Desi Roybal was awarded the Margarett Root Brown Endowed Chair of Fine Arts at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. 

1984 David Mahoney, P.E., has been appointed to chief executive officer and member of the board of directors at Dewberry Companies Inc. as of April 2026. He resides in Fairfax, Virginia. 

1984 Tina (Arana) Anderson published “Unchaos Yourself and Change Your Life: Five Steps to Clarity, Confidence and Breakthrough Transformation” in May 2024. It is a self-help guide focused on taking proactive, personal responsibility to eliminate chaos. She resides in Mission Viejo, California. 

1990/M.A. ’93 Eileen (Murray) Roybal was promoted to senior director of corporate and foundation relations and grants at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. 

2011/ DNP ’19 Liz (Weber) Fiedler Mergen published “Flowers Bloom Anyway – A Memoir: Rebuilding a Life You Didn't Choose” in March 2026. The memoir isn't about how to grieve the “right” way. It is about grieving messy, living loud, telling the truth even when it hurts and planting beauty anyway. She resides in Minnesota. 

Wedding

Alison Eibs ’21 and Braden Rahn ’18, Aug. 9, 2025. They reside in Good Thunder, Minnesota. 

In Memory

Don Barnett

Don Barnett, Class of 1964, died Jan. 12, 2026, at Pelican Pointe Health and Rehabilitation in Windsor, Colorado, after a brief battle with metastasized melanoma cancer.

Barnett, 83, was honored as an SDSU Distinguished Alum in 1973.

He was born Oct. 26, 1942, in Hot Springs. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science, Barnett studied public administration at the University of Nebraska for two years. In 1966, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army’s Medical Service Corps, serving four years and rising to the rank of captain.

Shortly after returning stateside, Barnett entered the 1971 Rapid City mayoral race. Despite being only 29 and facing serious odds, he won. Just as he and the city council were gaining momentum by renovating the tax code to fund a civic center and boost tourism, the Rapid City Flood struck in June 1972, killing 238 residents.

He was credited with leading the city out of mud and into a golden age of reconstruction, improvement and prosperity. As this moved forward, a protest organized by the American Indian Movement came to Rapid City in February 1973. Barnett “had to mediate between the forces of revolution and the forces of reaction to prevent bloodshed on either side.” He considered that the most agonizing month of his life.

After Barnett’s mayoral term ended in 1975, he went into the burgeoning cable television arena. He sold the business in the late 1980s and then became the marketing director for public golf courses, culminating in Denver in 2005.

Barnett is survived by two daughters, D'Anna (Ferguson) Catterson '84 (Ron) and Debra Ferguson; a sister-in-law, Louise Chaffee; his partner of the last nine years, Shirley Dunivant; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, JoAnn Baumann Barnett, in 2010 and two sisters, Jeannine Lester and Beverly (Barnett) Erck '58.

Alice Gehrke

Alice Gehrke, Class of 1974 M.S., died Feb. 9, 2026.

Gehrke, 90, of Brookings, was honored as an SDSU Distinguished Alum in 1998.

She was born April 17, 1935, in Linn, Kansas, and attended Kansas State University, where she met her future husband, Henry. They were married in 1956, and she graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1958 with a degree in elementary education.

The Gehrkes moved to Brookings in 1964. After being a stay-at-home mom for years, she attended SDSU, earning a master’s degree in guidance and counseling in 1974. She worked for SDSU for 20 years, initially as a counselor but primarily with the nursing continuing education program. 

Gehrke directed the rural nursing continuing education program. In addition, she wrote many grant proposals. Gehrke retired in 1998 as an assistant professor in nursing. Her Distinguished Alumni Award was for Outstanding Service to South Dakota.

Gehrke is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, Henry; four children, Stevin (Kathy), Bruce (Jackie), Karl and Katherine (Mark); nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Gladys Stone; and a brother, Neil (Harriet) Bisping.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Edna (Otto) Brickmann; a brother, Don (Dorian) Bisping; and a brother-in-law, Leonard Stone.

Lyle Solem

Lyle Solem, Class of 1959, died Nov. 30, 2025, at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester, Minnesota.

Solem, 93, of Rochester, was honored as an SDSU Distinguished Alum in 2010.

He was born Nov. 7, 1932, in Clear Lake and served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 before earning his degree in electrical engineering. Solem began his career in Milwaukee with General Motors in the AC Spark Plug Division, developing guidance systems for the Titan missile.

In 1960, he moved to Rochester and began a 27-year career with IBM, culminating as senior engineer. In 1986, he started Solem Associates, a management consulting firm with clients in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Solem served 15 years on the SDSU Foundation Council of Trustees, beginning in 2001. In 1996, he began helping with the foundation’s fundraising efforts on an unofficial basis. In 2004, he was recognized by the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering as a distinguished university benefactor.

Solem said his willingness to jump aboard the SDSU fundraising ship was automatic, noting he had done fundraising for his church and Kiwanis.

Solem is survived by three daughters, Renae (Scot) Sokola, Diane Solem and Janet (Scott) Finnesgard; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a younger brother, Jerry.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna, and an older brother, Richard.

Frank Kurtenbach

Frank Kurtenbach was a heavyweight — on the wrestling mat, in the corporate world, in his devotion to his alma mater and in the bonds he built with his fellow man.

Frank Joseph Kurtenbach, a 1961 graduate of South Dakota State College, died May 16, 2026, surrounded by his family at Sanford’s Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.

Kurtenbach, 88, was named an SDSU Distinguished Alumnus in 2004 and received the Lohr Award for Volunteer Leadership at SDSU in 2023. He was the driving force behind the Frank J. Kurtenbach Family Wrestling Center, donating $2.5 million to the state-of-the-art $5.2 million facility. 

The center, which opened in 2023, was the gathering spot for family and friends to celebrate Kurtenbach’s life after his June 2 funeral at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Brookings.

It was an appropriate location. Kurtenbach, who grew up on a farm near Dimock and graduated from Parkston High School in 1955, never wrestled a match at Parkston. There was no wrestling program there. Warren Williamson, an assistant football coach, recruited him to come to State. 

Williamson also was the wrestling coach and talked Kurtenbach into trying the new sport. Kurtenbach acknowledged, “I picked it up pretty fast.” Freshmen weren’t permitted in varsity competition. In the next three years, the heavyweight advanced to the national tournament. 

After graduation, he went into coaching — two years in Muscatine, Iowa; three in Keokuk, Iowa, where he started the wrestling program; a year (1968-69) as the interim coach at SDSU and then 11 years at Sioux Falls Lincoln. 

His impact stood the test of time. In 2000, Kurtenbach was inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 

Kurtenbach’s time in the wrestling room ended in 1979, when his brother, Al, asked him to join the Daktronics team in sales.

With his background and contacts, he was a great salesman for Matside scoreboards. After excelling in the high school market, Kurtenbach advanced to vice president for sales, a position he held for 20 years. He served a total of 35 years and was on the board of directors for 29 years. 

A relationship builder, Kurtenbach not only excelled in sales but also in recruiting college students to serve as interns and technicians. 

Kurtenbach is survived by two children, Steve (Amy) of Darnestown, Maryland, and Jackie (Michael) Schwartz, of Minneapolis; six grandchildren, and six siblings: Aelred Kurtenbach, Brookings; DeWayne Kurtenbach, Sahuarita, Arizona; Eva Scheetz, Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Ivan Kurtenbach, Troy, Michigan; Alice Laber, Denver; and Rita Kurtenbach, Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Jean (Dobbs), who died Dec. 24, 2015; and six siblings: Marie Walz, Dimock; Magdaline Kabeiseman, Parkston; Wilfred Kurtenbach, Dimock; Marceline Weiss, Parkston; Jack Kurtenbach, Long Beach, California; and Denis Kurtenbach, Paola, Kansas.