Madonna (Schissel) Curtin, `23 (Blooming Prairie, MN) married George Curtin in 1940. Madonna was the first woman elected to the Blooming Prairie School Board where she served for 18 years.

Virginia (Puhlman) Velin, `27 (Ironwood, MN)

Carolyn (Davidshofer) Frisch, `29 (Altura, MN) taught in rural schools in Winona, Minn., and Wabasha, Minn., and at Holy Trinity School in Rollingstone, Minn. In 1936, she married Cleon Frisch and they farmed for many years. Carolyn was well known and admired for her positive attitude, strong work ethic, deep faith and the far-reaching effect she had on the lives of the thousands of students she taught.

Ruth (Pagel) McNicol, `44 (Forest Grove, OR)

Dorothy (Carlson) Birdsey, `46 (Blue Earth, MN)

Shirley (Olson) Darrington, `46 (Mabel, MN) graduated summa cum laude and taught high school English and drama in Sleepy Eye, Minn., and Winona, Minn. Shirley farmed with her husband Dean in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. She was her church’s librarian for 25 years and served on the Winneshiek County Board of Review for 24 years. Shirley enjoyed drama and speech, reading, ballroom dancing, square dancing, letter writing and flower gardening.  

George J. Nissen, `50 (Edina, MN) was business manager at Normandale Community College for 23 years. George’s warmth and humor brought many friends into his life. He was active in the Danish-American Fellowship Saga Klubben, Lake Harriet Masonic Lodge and Zuhrah Shrine Temple. He was married to wife Ina for 42 years.

Evelyn (Haggerty Goodro) Kimbell `52/53/64 (Rochester, MN)

Dwight S. Kinne, ‘52 (Osceola, WI) played for the Air Force band during the Korean War era after graduating with a teaching degree in music. He served in the Air Force for four years. He then accepted a teaching position in Delevan, Minn., for two years. He married          Thelma Becker in 1958 and moved to Osceola, Wis., where he taught high school band and choir for 37 years. He also organized a junior high band, a high school show choir and a high school jazz band. When he retired in 1995, he had the joy of having three generations of some families in the program. After his death from leukemia in May 2004, a group of former students organized an ecumenical choir to sing at his funeral and over 75 former students participated. Members of the Osceola High School band also played the rouser, and a former student played taps at the gravesite. A scholarship in his name has been established by his family for a graduating Osceola High School senior who wishes to pursue a degree in the teaching field.

Jule E. Benke, `53 (Perham, MN)

Ruth S. (Wood) Geary, `53 (Stillwater, MN) graduated summa cum laude and was selected for listing in the 1953 Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She taught for 34 years, 30 of which were in the Stillwater School District. She worked for 15 years as the school districts’ elementary art coordinator. Ruth was active in many community and church organizations. Among many activities, she served for nearly 20 years as the Marine area member of the District 834 Community Education Advisory Committee and on the board of directors of the District Retired Educator’s organization.  Ruth had a very special grace for making friends and those relationships gave her great joy.

David Ross Patrick, `60 (St. Louis, MO) served in Army security in Korea and Japan prior to his graduation from WSU. David was a retired property-casualty claims manager for the Travelers Insurance Company in St. Louis, Mo. During his 32 year career, David, his wife Barbara (Gaddis) Patrick, `56, and their three children resided in Minneapolis, Minn., Windsor, Conn., Tulsa, Okla., Overland Park, Kan., Peoria, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo.  Following retirement, David was active in numerous Masonic organizations.

Judi M. (Feehan) Williams, `63 (Beloit, WI) married Gerald Williams in 1964 who proceeded her in death in 2003. Judi taught physical education at Beloit Catholic High School, and was most recently employed by Suds O’Hanahan’s Irish Pub.

Richard Edward Kulas, `64 (Winona, MN) taught for 37 years beginning in Somerset, Wis., and then in Winona, Minn. He received his master of science degree from the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana. He retired from teaching in 2000. He married Kris (Christianson) in 1965. They had two children. Richard enjoyed traveling, fishing and hunting trips, gardening and spending time with his children, grandchildren and friends.

Joseph Alfonso, `66/70 (DeForest, WI) taught at DeForest High School for 36 years. He taught biology and physical education. In addition to teaching, Joseph coached high school basketball, and was the athletic director at DeForest High School for several years.

David R. Haines, `66 (Minneapolis, MN)

Charlotte L.(Sylling) Schmidt, `66 (Spring Grove, MN)

Scott Edward Streater, `67/77 (Southern Shores, NC) formerly of Winona, was a Department of Vocational Rehabilitation counselor for the State Of Minnesota for 12 years, a rehabilitation counselor for Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for seven years, and a self-employed rehabilitation counselor until he retired. He was a member and served as an officer of the American Board of Vocational Experts. He received his master’s degree from Winona State University and a doctoral degree from the America College of Vocational Experts. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Crisis.  He had an upper Mississippi River boat pilot license and a private airplane license as well. 

Donna Elaine (Meakins) Harris, `72/75 (Winona, MN) earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, a master of science degree in specific learning disabilities, and an education specialist degree in educational administration. She earned a doctorate in education degree in educational administration from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo. Donna began her career as an educator in 1972 with the Winona Public Schools.  In 1978, she began an administrative career in the state of Wyoming. She returned to Winona in 1984 to teach in the Department of Education at St. Mary’s University. After returning to administration, she was principal of public and parochial schools in Wyoming, Minnesota and Wisconsin. She was chairwoman of the education department at Viterbo University and taught as adjunct professor at Winona State University, St. Mary’s University, the University of Wyoming, Mankato State and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Donna was owner of Harris Educational Consulting from 1993 until her death. She founded the Meakin Nursery School. She served on advisory committees for the College of St. Teresa, the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and Winona State University Educational Alliance and Summer Institute Committee. She was commencement speaker at Austin Community College in 1994. Donna had nine children, two of whom died in infancy.

Shirley (Cook) Flury, `73 (Lakeville, MN)

Irene Bellman, `74 (Goodview, MN) was a member of American Legion Post 9 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1287. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from Butler University in Indiana, and her master’s degree from Winona State University. She taught in various school systems throughout the country and finished her career in Dade County Florida. She served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1953, then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where she was a parachute rigger obtaining the rank of SSGT. She retired after ten years of combined service.

Doris (Jobst) Horst, `79 (Winona, MN) married Richard Horst in 1948. They had five children. She attended Lawrence College in Appleton, Wis., and later completed her bachelor of arts degree at Winona State University. Doris worked as a Spanish-English stenographer, department store sales clerk, radio station receptionist/scheduler and most of all a devoted mother and housekeeper. She was a dedicated volunteer having spent many years helping out at Lake Winona Manor and delivering home-delivered meals. She was a formidable opponent at the bridge table and earned life master. She was a member of Westfield Bridge Group, and an avid reader who loved mysteries. 

Anthony Bierly, `82 (Winona, MN)

Renee Lois Severson, `92 (Arcadia, WI) was employed by Gundersen Lutheran Clinic as a nurse in the CCU unit. She enjoyed fishing with her loving partner Neal Jensen at their cabin.

Kathryn (Hayden) Perrone, `99 (Rochester, MN)

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The Winona State Campus Community Also Remembers

Stanley Arbingast, ’29, ’34

Dr. Stanley Arbingast, who had been a long-time professor and former director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texas at Austin, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, peacefully in his sleep.

Christa M. Matter

Christa M. Matter of La Crosse, Wis., was 35 when she died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005. She had been a faculty member in the WSU Physical Education and Recreation department, had served as head coach of the WSU track team and assistant coach of the WSU volleyball team.

Alexander Yard

Prof. Alexander Yard had taught at Winona State University for nearly 20 years when he died of complications from cancer Aug. 5, 2005, at age 54.