Steve Leger

I haven't been getting on as much as I like.  Probably missed many birthdays and such, but with a class this size it is easy to do.  Regardless of my pitiful excuses, Happy Birthday to all those making it another year and I do hope all had a great holiday season and were able to enjoy it with friends and family.  And thank you Edna.  I am naturally gifted with a blather brain.  Very high aptitude for that.  But I do remember how you were always very nice to me and fun to be around.  I hope life has treated you well, as it sounds as though it has, and you are going to have a great new year.

On another note, and I don't want to disclose anything inappropriate, but I know one of our enthusiasticclassmates (Bev Spuhler Vietor) has been having some serious health issues with some of her immediate family for a few months.  As far as I know, she is okay personally.  But I am sure her concern for loved ones is a serious weight to bear.  She certainly is an optimistic person, but let's all hope and pray that her loved ones are okay and she is also. 

Now, back to the day to day life stuff.  I do enjoy visiting this site now and then.  Always brings a smile to my face and recalls many great memories.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

R. Stephen Leger

Steve Leger

I just wanted to pass along some news I have about one of the active members of the 68 reunion gang.  Beverly Spuhler/Vietor's mother, Olive, passed this Monday in her mid-90s.  It sounds like she went relatively peacefully.  Her mother lived with Bev and her husband Ed, for quite some time.  Thankfully, it seems she lived most of her time here in relatively good health.  Although the family had a good perspective in line with their religious beliefs, it is never easy to let go of a loved one, whether family or friend.  I hope I didn't take too much liberty in announcing this, but please join me in offering our sympathies and good wishes to Bev and her family.

I suppose one of the disadvantages of getting older is that many of us know intimately of the loss of a family member or other loved ones with increasing frequency.  It is part of life. 

I haven't checked in much lately, but I do wish my many friends and aquaintences from our class much good luck and happiness in all their endeavors.

Steve

Edna Montes (Ehleringer)

Beverly,

Our condolenses we send to you and your family.  I am so sorry to hear about your mom's passing.  Hope we can see you at our reunion and get caught up.  Are you still planning on coming our way this year?  Please do ---we'd love to have you. Edna

Sherry Temple (Teachout)

Dear Steve ~ Thank you for posting the news on Beverly's mother.  I appreciate it and I know we all send our condolences and wish her well.

Sherry

Marvon Hadsell

Beverly,

My condolences for your loss. I remember your mother very well, she was a wonderful lady. If I or my family can be of any help at this difficult time, please let me know.

Marvon

Bev Spuhler (Vietor)

Hello dear class mates,

Dear Steve how thoughtful of you to write a message about my mother's passing.  And to all you dear classmates who contacted us in the many forms of communication a sincere thank you.  It is all very heartwearming.  We all seem to remember each others' mothers from our childhood with fond memories.  :)   

I can not answer your questions about the reunion, as I am not a member of the reunion committee this year. Unfortuantely, at this point Ed and I will be unable to attending the reunion.  We look forward to reading all about the reunion and seeing the happy pictures posted here on the website.  Onward dear Saints of '68  Bev Spuhler Vietor

Kathy Matlack (Price)

Beverly, I am sorry about your mother. I remember the days together in the Bunny Street and Robert Bruce neighborhood, and Sunday School at the Presbyterian Church. Our families shared those early days. I know that your care helped your mother's peace of mind. I wish you much peace.

Kathy

Jacque Rico (Root)

Wishing everyone  a glorious Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday to all of us November babies!

Bev Spuhler (Vietor)

Hello Pilgrims and Saints.

Yes, another Thanksgiving and on to Advent Season.  We have much to be thankful for...we are the last generation who were taught factual history, some math, could pray and read the Bible in school.

May you each end the 45th year since we graduated from SMHS with good health and family close.

Onwards we Saints march into 2014.

Steve Leger

Haven't been around for a while.  As we head into the dog days of summer, I am hoping all are enjoying it.  Seems like 1/2 the class is retired now and taking regular vacations--and good for all.  My vacation this summer?  Hopefully a golf outing within 100 or so miles from the Leger Corporate Headquarters...okay, Leger's fairly nice mobile home in sunny and very expensive Santa Barbara.  Okay, signing out for a while, but I will return--and that's a direct threat!

Bev Spuhler (Vietor)

Hello '68 Saints.........

If some one does not post here, to say HI....Steve will not write to us.

How's everyone and their families doing?  HOpe ok.  We just survived the big KING fire here...down the road from our house.  After you have to evacuate in a hurry and then return to a house still standing, you take a look and say wow...thank you Lord.  And then to unpack what you dashed away with, you refocus on what is the worth of all our junk....what would happen if it all went up in smoke??  Family and friends are the most important, we have another home awaiting us, in Heaven.  Yup, we are saints.

Onwards,  Happy October--2014-- Bev Spuhler Vietor.

Marvon Hadsell

Glad you made it through OK, Bev. How about your brother? We just moved to Apache Junction from Tucson (in October 2013 and still haven't got unpacked!) so I know what you mean about STUFF. You just seem to accumulate more and more as time goes on. Oh and by the way, Steve, I still haven't retired completely I still work 40-50 hours a week (down from 60-70 when I retired the first time in 2009).

Marvon

Myrna Sleath (McClain)

Hi Bev,

So good to hear that your home was not affected by the fire!  We were in Yosemite during late September and it was filled with smoke from the fire. Then as we were driving over the 80 to reach Boise where we now live, it was difficult to see the road through the smoke.  Scary!!   We just made a big move from CA to ID to be near our daughter and her family.  We went through the "downsizing" routine and you are so right, we have too much stuff.  My son is in the Republic of Georgia trying to start a church in a small village where there is not one. They live with little fresh water, an outhouse, an outdoor shower, and my daughter-in-law cooks on an outside little bunson burner.  They have made all their own furniture and have few American comforts.  They are happy!   God is good!!   Myrna Sleath (McClain)

R. Matias Rico

Bev, we are glad you made it through the fire unscathed...we have been there, done that, it is very scary and makes one appreciate what is really important in life: family and loved ones. 

Karen Walters/Campbell (Farmer)

Bev,

Wow, so glad you are ok and survived the fire.  I keep telling Gary that we have too much stuff, but he doesn't seem to get the message. 

Happy October!  The end of summer has almost come.  Will miss hanging out at the lake, but not the 90+ heat.

Time to play golf in the cool weather.  Not retired yet so golf is only on the weekends.  Next year I get 5 weeks vacation so will act like I am retired  Not sure where the time went seems like yesterday was in the halls of SMHS running to class.

Nancy Trebon (Howard)

Fire is always a scary deal and evacuating emotionally upsetting.. We had to evacuate for two days just with our most recent north county san diego fire. And we had to take with us our two 80+ year old neighbors bc their families were out of town or out of the country. Fortunately, my son's home was available for all of us to stay at, as he had out of town business and took his wife for those days, which was only a conincidence. What was good after the fact, is that we centralized all the things we wanted to take with us in case this happened again. Now we are better prepared. But never emotionally as it's frightening to know how quickly fire can spread.

I am glad, as well Bev, your home survived, as our's did this last go around. Hope all is well wtih all our past SM Saints. I am still playing tennis, now on two different teams. Retired from 32 years of hs teaching now 10 years, but began my own Real Estate company to keep me busy which I truly enjoy bc I only stay as busy as I want. I find plenty of time to enjoy my retired husband as he has been for the last three years and now he does all the cooking. I still do all the cleaning, but we sized down to a small retirement 55+ community with only 1250 sq ft to care for which is an easy tradeoff to cooking. Best thing we did in retirement was to downsize. Took a year to clear out two storage units of "extra stuff". Cost and headaches are at a minimum and safer as we also like and do travel a lot. Hoping to get to Wimbledon next year as we both are into playing tennis . Went to US Open this last early Sept. and coupled with a visit to our Dr. Howard son who lives in New Jersey in Springfield jsut across from beautiful Manhatten, but much less expensive.

So good thoughts and prayers to all SM alums. Hoping to see more of you at our next reunion gathering.

Nancy Trebon Howard

In order from Left to Right - 33 Yr old Son Bryan, Bob, Me, 30 yr old son Scott, Dr. Howard.

Phil Christensen

Greetings from here in Santa Maria.  I cannot remember when I even posted anything about myself or what is happening.  Currently at our Santa Maria High School the old two story building is rising up from the ashes.  Remember how the old two story building connected the Ethel Pope with the administration building.  It will not connect the two structures but its made of almost all steel (to withstand earthquakes).  The old two story building was built SOLID enough to withstand a shake or two (right)?????  There is not to much open area left on SMHS campus.  I had the wonderful opportunity to be the SMHS Saints Varsity Soccer Coach from 1998 thru 2009.  That was an exciting and wonderful experience of which I shall never forget. 

I am still working for the United States Post Office, here in Santa Maria, going on almost 42 years.  Yes, I can retire anytime but I enjoy my work.  My wife, Donna, and I have been married now 43 years.  All of our children are adults with their exciting careers.  Our oldest son, Chad, is working for UCSB as a IT Library Tech.  Kenny is a career man for the Army going on 14 years, married with one son.  Our daughter Heather and youngest son Travis are Martial Arts Instructors with their own studio here in Santa Maria, CKD Academy of Martial Arts. 

Soon, I shall post some photos of my family and I so everyone can say "Now who is this guy?"  lol.........  SMHS Saints forever.....   

Sherry Temple (Teachout)

Hi Phil ~ so good to hear your news and update. Hope you enjoy the site and catching up with people and I certainly did enjoy your post.  Good to hear what everyone is doing...

Have a great fall and keep in touch.

Hugs,

Sherry Temple Teachout

Nancy Trebon (Howard)

Phi,

Yes please do. It is so great to see people still married and their children doing well. Must have been growing up in a smaller community. Good beginnings. So hope to see your family soon.

Nancy Trebon Howard

Bev Spuhler (Vietor)

Wow...nice to hear from everyone and catch up on what's happening.  Thanks for taking the time and posting photos...fun.

Ralph Ioimo

I don't get on this site much but I enjoyed reading about everyone's lives. Bev, I am certainly glad to hear that everything turned out okay for you and your family with that ugly fire.

Phil it was good to hear that you are doing well. I had no idea that you were still in Santa Maria. I look forward to seeing SMHS's new building. I remember the old two story building and was sad to see it go and for years nothing was there to replace it.

I am still a professor at Auburn University at the Montgomery campus. I am now the department head of the Criminal Justice Department and would like to retire but I can't see myself sitting around the house watching soap operas so I guess I'll keep going. My two oldest sons (36 and 35) are living in Seattle where with our 4 grandkids and my two youngest sons (27 and 25) followed in my footsteps and are police officer with the Montgomery Police Department. We joke about being the blue bloods like the TV series and I am the old man of the group. My wife reminds me that my days of chasing criminals are long gone.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our next reunion, whenever that might be, but in the meantime, keeping up with everyone on our website.

Ralph

Mary Swartout (Lykens)

Merry Christmas to all and a great New year! 

Tom Martinez

I want to thank all that have sent birthday wishes.  So many of us are fortunate to still have our good health and most of our teeth.  :-)    Wishing all a  Merry CHRISTmas and good health for the coming YEARS !!

See you all in a couple years for our 50th Class Reunion !!

Steve Leger

Geesh!  I haven't been here in quite a while.  Just thought I would pop in.  Sorry to hear of some of our number have passed.  However, I am happy to hear (read) that so many are still doing fine also.  Who would have thunk it that I am coming up upon senior citizenship in a few months.  I suspect many of you feel the same way.  And three years for our 50th reunion.  50th!!!  I have to say that a few times to have it sink in ... 50th!  THAT'S A HALF CENTURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope all is well.  And since I am following Mr. Martinez--I am still going to try and get up that way to play some golf Tom....HA!

Tom Martinez

Welcome to the OLD GEEZERS  Club.   It sounds terrible but not at all that bad.  Heading to Chicago next week for a two week vacation.  Son relocated there for work and we have two grandkids there, so plan on spending some time with them. Then catch a couple of basball games ( White Sox and Milwaukee)  then on to Whistling Straits for the PGA Championships.