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Bethel College Class of 1964 55th Reunion North Newton, Kansas June 8, 2019
Bethel College Class of 1964
55th Reunion
North Newton, Kansas
June 8, 2019
Bethel College
Judith A. Facemire
Contact Information
About My Family: I have been married to Frelon (Butch) Facemire for 49 years. We have one son, Brent,
who has been married to his wife, Charity, for 22 years. They have 3 children: Cayla, age 19; Micah, age 15;
and Josiah, age 7. They live in Chattanooga, TN where Brent is a financial advisor.
About Me: I received a M.Mus. degree from the University of Oklahoma and taught voice at Cameron Uni-
versity in Lawton, OK for 4 years. I determined eligibility for welfare program for 10 years in Ok and FL.
Then I determined eligibility for SS disability for 10 years and for LTD and STD for insurance companies for
13 years. I retired from Lincoln Financial Insurance Co in 2009. My husband and I also were ministers of
music at various churches through the years. I currently sing classical and semi-classical music in the Moun-
tain Community Chorus of Young Harris, GA, and we give concerts for the public twice a year. My husband
and I still perform gospel music upon occasion. We are living in a cabin in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of
NC.
Bethel Memories: Voice Lessons and Senior Voice Recital under
Walter Jost
Performing in the Opera Cosi Fan Tutte
Counterpoint under Harold Moyer
Auditing French Class
Madrigals under Dr. Suderman
Hanging with my “Buds” - Leota Kester, Velma Charles, Greta
Horan and Sheryl Ratzlaff
(continued on next page)
Address: 100 Carvers View Trail Home Phone: 828-644-8898
City/State: Murphy, NC Cell Phone:
Zip Code: 28906 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Judith A. Facemire (cont.)
Our cabin on top of Whittlers Mtn in the Smoky Mountains of NC
Bethel College
Leanna (Goering) Fast
Contact Information
About My Family: My husband Rudi Fast taught on New World Island, NL and in Moose Jaw, SK. He en-
joys photography, mechanics, and road trips. Our son Nikolaus, a property manager, and his wife Mackinley,
a teacher, live in Winnipeg, MB with their daughters Olivia, 15 and Lucy, 13. Our daughter Merri Ellen, a
certified life coach, and her husband Scott Giesbrecht, a financial advisor, live in Abbortsford, BC with their
sons Tavis, 16 and Aidan, 14.
About Me: After Bethel I took education classes at McPherson College and Memorial University in St.
John’s, NL. I taught in Markham, IL and on New World Island, NL. We have lived in Moose Jaw, SK since
1972. Some of my interests have been art education, painting watercolor, stamp collecting, reading, Bible
study and community choir. I am grateful for my Christian husband of 50 years, our family, friends, church,
and opportunities to travel and learn new things.
Bethel Memories: I respected and appreciated all my teachers at Bethel and most of my classes. I made new
friends that are old friends now and still keep in touch with me.
Address: 1339 Gordon Road Home Phone: 306-692-5465
City/State: Moose Jaw, SK Cell Phone:
Zip Code: S6H 3E6, Canada Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
David Friesen
Contact Information
About My Family: My wife Doris (nee Hamm) passed away in 2011. I am now remarried to Margaret Enns.
We have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
About Me: After Bethel I attended A Menn. Seminary and pastored 30 plus years plus taught school for 5
years and painted with my son Jonathan for another 12 years. Am now retired, loving family and life.
Bethel Memories: Wonderful experience, also, JFK killed the time we were there.
Address: 118-2451 Gladwin Rd Home Phone: 604-854-6238
City/State: Abbotsford, B.C. Cell Phone: 604-309-1524
Zip Code: V2T 3N8, Canada Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Romaine Friesen
Contact Information
About My Family:
Spouse: Judy Kelly (Creighton) Friesen ‘65. Psychtherapist. MSW– University of Southern California 1977.
Deceased.
Daughter: Michelle. MSW, social worker.
Son: Greg and family in retail business in Oregon.
About Me: PhD studies in history at U.C. Irvine, CA. Two N.E. Humanities grants at Columbia University
during the 1980s. History and International Relations teacher at Laguna Beach High School for 30 years. Mu-
seum docent.
I am grateful for what I can still do: walk, play golf, travel. And 50 years of marriage I shared with a fellow
Liberal arts graduate, Judy.
Bethel Memories: Werner Fransen—someone you knew that would never “rust out,” but “wear out.” Bless
his soul.
Address: 3155 Bern Dr Home Phone:
City/State: Laguna Beach, CA Cell Phone: 949-632-1242
Zip Code: 92651 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Curtis N. Gering
Contact Information
About My Family: Wife Erna L. Neufeld ‘64 of Reedley, California passed away in 1994.
A son, Michael, wife Tina, grandsons Justin, age 10 and Logan, age 8.
A daughter Noelle, husband Dennis Winn of Spokane.
Michael operates our wheat farm near Lind and I still help wit the work as needed.
About Me: God has blessed me and my family beyond measure!
Bethel Memories:
Address: 494 S. Hwy. 21 Home Phone: 509-677-3282
City/State: Lind, WA Cell Phone:
Zip Code: 99341-9719 Email:
Bethel College
Kathleen (Goering) Goering
Contact Information
About My Family:
Spouse: J. Randall Goering
Children: Leslie Goering Seifert, OK
Jeff Randall Goering, MD
About Me:
Administration at WDC/SCC
Christian Education
Marketing-Fundraising at Pine Villiage Retirement, Moundridge
Board Member, ReUse It Center Ministry, McPherson, KS
Board member, Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association (SMCHA)
Hobbies: writing, Storytellers of the Great Plains, pickleball
Bethel Memories: Good friends lifelong
Address: 1906 Carnation Vlg Home Phone: 620-345-8532
City/State: Moundridge, KS Cell Phone: 316-371-6189
Zip Code: 67107 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Randy Goering
Contact Information
About My Family:
Wife Kathy—interests: genealogy, pickleball, church activities
Daughter Leslie—school system interpreter for the deaf
Son Jeff—Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of Baltimore Ravens NFL Football Team
About Me:
Education—BA Natural Sciences, Bethel/BS Electrical Engineering, KSU
Vocational—Vice President and General Manager at a partner of private engineering company. Specialty in
design of supervisory control and data acquisition systems for petroleum pipeline.
Interests—NFL/college football, woodworking, grandchildren, church activities
Bethel Memories:
Studies—Math courses under Arnold Wedel
Football—3 years of football under coach Wes Buller
Friends—lifelong friends made while living at Goering Hall
Address: 1906 Carnation Vlg Home Phone:
City/State: Moundridge, KS Cell Phone: 316-371-9177
Zip Code: 67107 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Susan (Martens) Kehler
Contact Information
About My Family: Just several months after having moved into Menno Place (large senior living complex)
my spouse, Peter, died. However, my stepchildren are all very good to me. One, Judy (Roger) Reimer lives in
Hesston; three sons (2 with families) live in Calgary and 2 in Toronto and the youngest daughter about 40
min over from me.
About Me: Beyond Bethel I did my Masters in Nursin Ed., returned to Taiwan, established a nursing school
there under COM in 1957—there till 1980. Married Peter and 1981-1984 taught at Bethel nursing depart-
ment. (In 1975 studied for one semester at AMBS.) In 1985 Peer and I returned to B.C. Canada where I took
a nursing job here at (then only) Menno Home. Back to Taiwan 1991-93, and to Ukraine 1996-97, then re-
tired.
Bethel Memories:
1) Bethel’s outstanding singing groups (choirs, ensem-
bles)
2) Bethel’s outstanding chapel services
3) The profs in the nursing department
4) The variety of dramas
5) My helpful class profs
Address: 32979 Marshall Rd., Apt 205 Home Phone: 604-851-3136
City/State: Abbotsford, B.C. Cell Phone:
Zip Code: V2S 8H4, Canada Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Marlin Kym
Contact Information
About My Family:
Married 61 years, 3 married sons
Eleven grandchildren, seven married
Eight great grandchildren
About Me:
M-Div Degree from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Served as pastor in five congregations in four
states: Kansas, Texas, Oregon, Nebraska.
Retired in 2005 following 40 years of pastoral ministry.
Moved to retirement community, Pine Village, in Moundridge, KS in 2010.
Bethel Memories:
Address: 1906 Tulip Vlg Home Phone: 620-345-2272
City/State: Moundridge, KS Cell Phone: 620-386-0119
Zip Code: 67107 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Ramon H. Neufeld
Contact Information
About My Family: Karen Reimer and I met at Bethel in 1964 and were married in 1965. We were together
for 52 years until her death in 2018 after a prolonged battle with cancer. We raised two daughters, Kristin and
Susan.
Kristin attended Bethel in 1987 and later attended Cal State Bakersfield. She received an M.S. in exercise
philosophy from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 1993. Kristin married Shane Archer and currently resides in Clo-
vis, CA. they have 2 sons, Nicholas (18) and Benjamin (13).
Susan graduated from Bethel in 1993 and went on to Claremont Graduate School for her M.S. in child Devel-
opment in 1997. Susan is currently living in El Centro, CA and works for Bridge Housing in San Francisco as
a VP for Development.
About Me: I graduated from Bethel in 1964 and started my medical school at Loma Linda U. in CA in the
fall of 1964. After my freshman year, I married Karen Reimer in 1965. Graduation from LLU in 1968. Dur-
ing internship in 1969, Kristin was born. From 1969-1972, we were with MCC working in Hyden and Har-
lan, Kentucky. I attended UCLA School of Public Health from 1972-1973 and received a Masters in Public
Health. I completed a Family Medicine residency in 1975 in Fresno, CA.
We moved to Bakersfield in 1976, where we lived for the next 40 years. During this time, I directed a resi-
dency in family medicine for 5 years, was in
private practice for 27 years, and served as a
medical director for a Medicare Advantage
health plan for another 8 years.
After retiring in 2015, we moved to Fresno to
be closer Kristin, Shane, and our grandsons.
Currently, I am active with traveling, fly-
fishing, playing pickleball, and bicycling.
(continued on next page)
Address: 1804 East Calle Verde Way Home Phone:
City/State: Fresno, CA Cell Phone: 661-303-0263
Zip Code: 93730 Email: [email protected]
Ramon H. Neufeld (cont.)
Bethel Memories: I have many memories associated with Bethel. The most significant would be the educa-
tion I received and the culture of continued improvement and learning. Meeting Karen, my life’s mate, was
the most significant social connection I made. Friends for life include Nelson Gingerich, Ezra Yoder, John
Keller, to name a few. I have a special fondness and place in my heart for Dr. Robert Schmidt, who encour-
aged me (a pre-pharmacy major) to attend a session for the pre-med students presented by KU Medical
School. During that session, I had a life-changing epiphany to change my career choice from pharmacy to
medicine. I am so thankful for his encouragement, as it led to a fulfilling life as a medical professional serv-
ing in many different capacities.
Bethel College
Jimmy L. Penner
Contact Information
About My Family:
Spouse: Linda L. Penner, retired radiation therapist, Integris Medical Center
4 sons: Jay—retired Oklahoma City police officer
Mike—computer graphics designer, Colorado
Matt—instructor for air traffic controllers, Oklahoma City
Matthew—self employed, Fresno, CA
3 grandchildren
About Me: Spent 25 years in banking, all on the managerial side. Retired from Bank One/Chase as Vice
President/Manager. Banking took me from California, Washington and back to Oklahoma. After retirement
Linda and I traveled the western half of United States in our motor home. Been on numerous cruises, plus
many places east. We continue to travel when we can get away. We have a beautiful home with a deck that
backs up to a creek. Enjoy the wildlife, reading and studying with Linda. We enjoy Wednesday night Bible
study together and I attend a men’s Bible study on Thursday mornings.
Bethel Memories: I am grateful for the edu-
cation I received in economics and business
administration.
Dorm life and being away from home for the
1st time in my life!
Football and the friendships developed with
my fellow athletes.
Working in the dining hall for 4 years as a
waiter.
Numerous other campus activities.
Address: 3900 Cottage Lane Home Phone:
City/State: Edmond, OK Cell Phone: 405-401-5567
Zip Code: 73013 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
LaVerle (Dirks) Schrag
Contact Information
About My Family: Ron, my husband, died in June of 2013
Daughter Jill and her husband, Eric Addison, live in La Mesa, CA. They have two-year-old twins, Joseph and
Sophia. Jill is self-employed, providing services to financial advisors. Eric is self-employed as a videogra-
pher/marketer for business clients.
Daughter Jenifer and her husband, Matt James, live in South Park in San Diego. They have two sons, Ezra
age 13 and Eli age 10. Jen works as a social researcher. Matt owns an electric bicycle shop.
About Me: I moved to Mount Miguel Covenant Village, a retirement village, in Spring Valley, CA, in July
of 2018. It has been a big cultural shift for me, but it does put me within 20 minutes or less, depending on
traffic, from each of my daughters. This is the first time I have lived near my children and grandchildren and
I’m really enjoying it.
There is not a Mennonite church in this area, but I am grateful for having found a United Church of Christ
where I feel at home. I’m “caught” between a very conservative community in which I live, and a rather pro-
gressive church Im calling home. I sing in choir at both places.
I brought a number of my sculptures along and continue to use them for programs and retreats to share the
analogies I find in the creative process and the spiritual journeys we’re on.
There are a host of opportunities I take advantage of here: lectures, concerts, classes, book club, Bible study,
raised-bed gardening, pole walking, exercise classes, as well as organized “field trips” off campus.
Bethel Memories: I’m so grateful for having attended Bethel College. It influenced me in many ways, and
that influence continues to this day. I also made some great life-long friends. I’ve been blessed.
Address: 325 Kempton St. Apt 1017 Home Phone:
City/State: Spring Valley, CA Cell Phone: 620-727-4716
Zip Code: 91977 Email: [email protected]
Bethel College
Ezra Yoder
Contact Information
About My Family: Spouse: Faye Yoder; two sons, three grandchildren
About Me: Photo is of earlier this year in Antarctica.
Address: 2927 Summer Wind Ln, Apt 4619 Home Phone: 303-921-3539
City/State: Highlands Ranch, CO Cell Phone:
Zip Code: 80129 Email: [email protected]
