Those 70ish Girls

Marvin Niedan ’62

My first eight years was at Pershing School, 23 miles west of Murdo.  After registering for High School, Coach Swede (John Pierson) looked at me         ( 5’8” and 210 lbs) and said “of course, you plan on playing football?”  I said  “ I don’t  know anything about football, but I will think about it.” The first day of school I ended up faking my dad’s name to the physical slip and went out for practice.  First game of the year Chris Anderson and I dressed for the game, and Kim Graham got hurt and Coach Swede told me to go in and just “plug the hole.” I believe it was the 2ed day of school and we were excused for noon and we were going up the stairs from the science room and one of the students turned around and took a swing at me.  I ducked and took him down.  We both were sent to Superintendent Gordon Diedtrich’s office.  Luckily, there were witnesses and the other student did not get off that lucky.  Superintendent  Diedtrich’s brother, Harvey, had military obligations and started teaching a few days late.  The first day Mr. Harvey Diedtrich was there, cousin Gordon Niedan and I were sitting next to each other in the science room.  Harvey Diedtrich came into the room at the same time Gordon and I were sitting down. I kicked my right leg back outside the desk and it pushed Gordon’s desk far enough that he ended up on the floor.  Harvey had me up in his brother’s office before he even introduced himself.  Luckily, superintendent Diedtrich believed me after he had cousin Gordon up who helped me get out of that one.  Ironically, five years later, Dr . Gordon Diedtrich was the head of the education department at Northern State and was my advisor through my senior year. He convinced me to pursue my MA and Doctorate in School Administration at USD.

Ralph Thomas ’67

And Puff, you were gone.

Near the end of the school year in 1964, the junior class spokesman, Dave Beckwith spoke to the open assembly hall of all four grades (that was the last year all four grades could be addressed from on or near the steps going up into the superintendent’s office.  In the summer of 1964 the school was remodeled into homes rooms.)  Anyway, Dave started with a heart wrenching soliloquy about how the senior class was special and will hold a cherished spot in all our hearts. Dave kept going through his tears and said the junior class wanted to present the senior class with a special gift he hoped they all would cherish.  On cue, Dave’s assistants revealed the green dimpled head of Puff the Magic Dragon, the junior class’s winning float entry from the previous fall.  The senior men immediately rushed Puff’s head, took it outside, and stomped it into smithereens.  And Puff you were gone!   

Jim Anderson ’63

Under the bucket and out cold.

During basketball practice, while shooting lay-ups at the west end of the auditorium (winter of 1961) I accidentally slipped and hit my head on something.  I came to feeling a wet cloth on my forehead and face while lying on the floor under the basket.  Coach Pierson had Kip Kinsley borrow Mrs. Khurt’s car to take me uptown to see Dr. Murphy.  “How many fingers do you see Jimmy?”  I answered correctly, sat out a day of practice and had no complications.   There are some people however, that think there have been lingering effects! 

 

 Linda Anderson Nill ’68

I remember being at a rehearsal for something at school and we were waiting for instructions in the auditorium.  Steve Parish sat down at the piano and started pounding out ragtime or boogy-woogy!  I was in awe and still am!