University News Obituaries


Bernard L. Delancey, Class of ’72, Hulett, Wyo., passed away Oct. 26, 2006. Bernard served overseas in the European Theatre; received the Distinguish Flying Cross. He taught 20 years in Montana and later at Hulett. Bernard had many occupations includ- ing: rancher, insurance salesman, Boeing secu- rity guard, city police and mayor of Hulett.


David Patten, Class of ’72, Pierre, passed away Dec. 21, 2006. David taught elementary school and was the assistant principal in Pierre. David enjoyed being a Boy Scout leader.


Barbara (Biggins) Carson, Class of ’73, Chadron, Neb., passed away May 20, 2006. Barbara was an elementary teacher and school librar- ian for 14 years. She also served as the Chadron State College curriculum librar- ian for 21 years.


Carole (Fitzgerald) Rogers, attended, ’73, Rapid City, passed away Feb. 17, 2007. Carole worked at BHSU as well as Rapid City Central, JC Penny in New Mexico, and McNary Grade School (Arizona).


Terri (DeBord) Britton, attended, ’75-’76, Rapid City, passed away Aug. 14, 2006. Terri worked as a cook and baker.


Lu E. (Dennis) Sampson, Class of ’76, Pierre, passed away Aug. 26, 2006. Lu taught for over 20 years. She wrote human interest articles for various publica- tions including River Life and South Dakota Magazine.


Barbara A. (Cooper) Snellgrove, Class of ’77, Box Elder, passed away Nov. 27, 2006. Before attending BHSC, Barbara


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worked seven years at the Ellsworth AFB in the accounting department. She taught at Douglas High School for 16 years.


Roseann (Hickey) Leisure, Class of ’79, Rapid City, passed away Oct. 10, 2006. She taught school in Dayton, Ohio, and in the Douglas School System for 20 years.


Brett Peterson, attended, ’77-’79, Belle Fourche, passed away Oct. 16, 2006. Brett lived in Indianapolis, Ind., where he worked as a refrigeration technician.


The 80s


Marlin G. “Moon” Weston,


attended ’82,


Porcupine, passed away Jan.1, 2007. His life as a cowboy and rancher took a turn when he was involved in a car accident in 1984, leaving him a quadriplegic.


Esaja S. Haataja, Class of ’83, Spearfish, passed away March 12, 2007. Esaja joined the Air Force, serving in Japan and Okinawa. He and his wife operated a lodge near Spearfish Canyon. Esaja worked at Homestake Sawmill and was an accountant for many years.


Steven P. Haataja, Class of ’85, Chadron, Neb., was last seen Dec. 4, 2006 at his office at Chadron State College. His body was found March 9, 2007. IHe taught two years at Augustana College in Sioux Falls and worked for many years at Gateway, Inc. He began teaching at Chadron State College in Nebraska in the fall of 2006.


Sheila (Niemi) Osborn, attended, ’84-’85, Hardin,


Black Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 32


Mont., passed away Sept. 18, 2006. She worked for W & M Plumbing and Bowman Grain & Seed before beginning a career at Heritage Acres Nursing Home as a CNA for 18 years.


Robert J. Wallace, attend- ed, ’81-’85, Rapid City, passed away Feb. 9, 2007. Robert was a certified lum- ber grader.


Florence Jean McMillan, Class of ’88, Mesa, Ariz., passed away Nov. 14, 2006, after a long and courageous battle with cancer and con- gestive heart failure. She spent the last seven years of her life working as a sub- stance abuse coordinator.


Richard “John” Symonds Jr., Class of ’88, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc., died Aug. 20, 2006, from injuries sustained in a sky diving accident near Tamahawk, Wisc. John was an attorney and partner at Nash Podvin Attorneys at Law.


Teri V. Powell, attended, Rapid City, passed away Jan. 7, 2007. She was a Spanish teacher in Rapid City. She chaperoned educational trips to various Spanish-speaking countries and also served as the advisor to the Amnesty International Club. After retiring, she ran two small businesses and participated in geological digs.


The 90s


Joyce (Niemi) Tollefson, Class of ’90, Rapid City, passed


away March 4, 2007. She lived in Michigan, Alaska, and South Dakota. In later years she lived in Paradise, Calif.


Sandra (Sorenson) Fisher, Class of ’91, Newcastle, Wyo., passed away Sept. 27, 2006. She taught in Oelrichs and Lead. She worked as a produc- tion analyst for Black Hills Exploration and Production.


Vance Alan Peterson, Class of ’92, Encampment, Wyo., died July 16, 2006. During his student teaching expe- rience, he met his future wife, Janice. He taught and coached from 1992 to 2006.


The 00s


Justin John Gunnare, Class of ’06, Miles City, Mont.,


died Oct. 21, 2006. He did his student teaching at Custer County District High School and was the assistant women’s basket- ball coach with his uncle, Dwight Gunnare, at Miles Community College. He was head coach for the Miles City Colts Baseball team. Justin accepted his first teaching position at Lame Deer Public Schools where he was teaching at the time of his death.


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