By Lester Hughes
It’s hard to believe we’ve come to the end of the 20th year of Mini-School. I know that Doug has written an article in this Com-Mini-Cations reflecting on this 20th year, so what I would like to do in this Meanderings is focus on Mini-School alumni. I’ve come across a lot of them this school year and have spent quite some time with a small group of them who have helped with the planning of Mini-School’s biggest, best reunion.
Stewart Hanson (’73), Todd Thompson (’71), Kim Wilson Obermeier (’79) and Shelley Mikkelson DeVaan (’76), have been the core group of organizers for the reunion. We’ve had a lot of laughs reminiscing and coming up with some great ideas for the big event. The reunion’s going to be fantastic and it’s due to the creative minds and hard work of these successful graduates. I’d like to give a brief rundown on each one of them.
Todd Thompson is alive and well and still living in Deephaven. He has two kids (10 and 11), is a single parent, and has spent hours trying to locate the first batch of Mini-School grads from 1971. I’ve known Todd since I was about 5. We grew up in the same neighborhood and went to school together all those years and finally graduated together in 1971. Todd still has that wonderful sense of humor and boundless energy and enthusiasm. It’s great to see some of us are still doing well.
Stewart Hanson brought his little 3-year old daughter Kelsy to one of our meetings. What a sweetheart! Stewart’s still working for Arteka–he’s been there since he was a student in Mini-School. He’s moved
up through the ranks there and is now Vice President of Operations. Stewart’s had a lot of enthusiasm for this reunion, too, and he’s been one of our main P.R. people. He and Todd make a great pair of organizers, coming up with ideas like “dunk the teachers”–what would we do without them?
Kim Wilson Obermeier keeps herself busy working at a bank full time and caring for her two sons, ages 4 and 7 months. She and Kent Obermeier (’79) are another one of those Mini-School alumni marriages made in heaven. Kim has been a real trooper in the reunion effort and the queen of gathering gift certificates for the raffle to be held the big night. She’s also been crucial in designing the new M-S T-shirt and spent five hours drawing that beautiful little bike you will see in the design. Kim’s even taking the whole week off before the reunion just so she can spend lots of time on last minute details.
Shelley Mikkelson DeVaan, my long time dearest buddy, is truly the super woman of the 90’s. She works on research at Rosemount Corporation, cares for two young kids (5 and 4), husband Gary, thoroughbred
Jetters, and spaz dog Luke. Even though her mom died in March of a longtime battle with cancer, Shelley’s had a lot of energy to give to the reunion. She’s become the media freak of the committee. She’s arranged for SAILOR News’, Tom Ratzloff to attend the event, interviewed for an article in the Chanhassen VILLAGER and is attempting to interest WCCO and KARE 11 News to come out with camera crews the night of the reunion. We’ll see what transpires. I myself would love to be on the 10 o’clock news soaked from dunking in freezing cold water by some of my all-time favorite students. Shelley thought it wonderful media timing when May 13’s Sunday Magazine in the Star Trib was totally taken up with an incredible article on our own Mini-School alumnus, U.S. climber, Melissa Quigley.
And now on to other alumnus news: In the sidelines, giving as much time to the reunion effort as busy schedules permitted are Troy and Jess Anderson Wheeler–another set of Mini-Schoolers from the past, now both in the grocery business–different stores, though. They’re not sure if they’ll be attending the reunion due to good friend and Mini-School alumnus Jill Reno’s wedding on June 2. She’s marrying almost Mini-Schooler at-one-time Alex Hering. Congratulations!
Sylvia Flugum’s been around for several meetings but since she works at the Race Track, it’s been too crazy for her lately. Debbie Johnson Condon is another busy alumnus whose given some help to the reunion, though 3 kids, work fulltime, and schooling at Normandale in an RN program has made it hard for her to get too involved although we’ll all appreciate the special assignment she’s been working on for the night. (You’ll see, you gotta be there to find out!)
Padie Sapp and Brenda Smith attended one meeting. Padie proudly showed me her report card from Normandale with a 4.0 average! I ran into Padie again with Wendy Smith who will finish at Normandale this spring and plans to go on to the U of M for a degree in Japanese. We’ve also heard that Roy Davis will complete his diploma at Normandale this spring.
Tracy White showed up one day to report she is getting married and wants her soon-to-be-brother-in-law to attend Mini-School. Tracy went through Brown Institute, then on to the U of M for a degree in broadcasting. She’s currently running audio at Canterbury Downs.
Doug (Snydes) Snyder went through Vo-Tech’s Computer Graphics course and landed a job in the graphic department of his long-time employer the Star Tribune. Sue and Kay Nelson (whatever their last names are) helped out a bit on graphics for the reunion and work for the family business Indenti-Graphics in St. Boni. Sister Michelle has marriage in her plans, has moved to the Big Apple and is designing children’s clothes for Health-Tex after completing a degree in fashion design from Minneapolis College of Art and Design. And Tammy Messer Roushar will be doing an incredible job running sound for the Bottle Rockets the night of the reunion.
Carol Lindberg owns her own Hair Care shop and may be given a special assignment shaving Randy’s beard the night of the reunion. Randy’s agreed to take it all off–the beard he’s had since the summer before Mini-School began 20 years ago–grown on an Outward Bound month long course–if enough additional money is raised in a “pass the hat” effort. The compromise, though, is that Randy gets to keep the mustache.
I called former teachers Nick and Linda Douglas Jambeck to personally invite them to the reunion. They informed me that they never travel further north than mid-Florida but they are alive and well and living on Sanibel Island.
And last but certainly not least, I talked with John Eiden, who informed me that he and Sandy Lambrecht Eiden intend to travel up from Louisiana and attend our big event. I do hope they haven’t drown yet and will still be able to attend. Their business, “All That Garbage” is thriving with many dump trucks and dumpsters. They’ve become known for their concerns of environmentally sound waste management. I can’t wait to get Eiden in that dunk tank; the water of which by the way, will come directly from Waconia’s water tower two hours before we begin. Will it be cold?
I’m not sure, but by the time this Com-Mini hits the news stands, the reunion may be history. We’ll have a great story next fall to tell and hope to have some important follow-up info on what more of our Mini- School people have gone on to do with their lives.
Remember, too, if it’s not already past, that Mini-School’s year-end Recognition Night is Tuesday, June 5, 7:00-9:30 p.m. in the Small Auditorium. It’s a great night honoring this year’s grads and all present students of Mini-School.
I do hope this issue finds all of our readers healthy and happy and looking forward to the great summer ahead of us. See you all again in the fall!