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A 'committeed' family

By Anna Stevens '10
May 24, 2010

Erik Hembre '90 signed up to be a long distance planning committee member for his 20th reunion with little idea that he was not the only reunion planner in his family. In fact, both of Erik's parents, Ruth Mandsager Hembre '61 and Jim Hembre '60, and brother-in-law Dan Rustad '95 are helping to plan their respective upcoming reunions.

"Our family didn't communicate about working on our reunion planning — it just happened," says Ruth.

In a family with a rich Ole history, there are plenty of reunions to keep track of. All four of the Hembre children graduated from St. Olaf: Turi '87, Erik '90, Leif '93, and Rustad's wife Anna Lisa '96. Jim and Ruth both have siblings, cousins, and other relatives who attended St. Olaf.

In addition to crediting St. Olaf with introducing her to her spouse, Ruth Hembre is thankful for the education that she, her husband, and all their children received, and for the lasting friendships they made. "We just want to give back to the college by helping with our class reunions," she says.

"Staying connected to my St. Olaf friends is important, and helping plan our reunion is a great way to do that," adds Rustad. "And I want to repay St. Olaf for all that it did to shape who I am."

Each year about 100 volunteers help organize and execute class reunions. They plan and arrange the reunion luncheons, write promotional pieces that encourage classmates to attend, and make arrangements for any off-campus gatherings. In addition, several classmates share the task of planning a class reunion gift. Volunteers encourage their classmates to participate in the reunion gift campaign, and they present their gift to the college during their reunion celebration.
 
The Hembres: (adults, front row, l–r) Hatti Hembre (married to Leif), Kate Howe (married to Erik), Jim Hembre '60, Ruth Mandsager Hembre '61, and Anna Lisa Hembre Rustad '96 (married to Dan); (back row) Leif Hembre '93 (married to Hatti), Erik Hembre '90 (married to Kate), Turi Hembre '87 (married to Calvin), Calvin Conditt (married to Turi), and Dan Rustad '95 (married to Anna Lisa).

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.