Gusties Gather, Fall 2025

Around the world, Gusties get together. Here are several. Do you have photos of your favorite Gusties gathering? Email us!
Author picture for Stephanie Ash
By Stephanie Ash on November 6, 2025
Nine ladies in a row with a Gustavus Adolphus College pendant.

Class of 1997 grads traveled to Fez Morocco to celebrate their 50th birthdays. They met as first-years in the same section in Co-Ed and have remained close friends ever since. L to r: Jill Watson Swanson, Stefanie Tucker Iqball, Alissa Midthune Maloney, Holly Wangsness Dau, Mara Berkland, Heather Duggan Anderson, Julie Buerkle Radniecki, Tina Smith Walker, and Jen Johnson Cords.

Gusties Gather is a regular feature of the digital and print magazine from Gustavus. Have you gathered with other Gusties recently? Send us your latest updates, with photos of 600 KB or more in size. Bonus points if you’re sporting Gustie gear!

Lucia Grace Blackstad, born to Alicia Lhotka Blackstad ’19, is pictured here with three former Gustavus St. Lucias. L to r: Lori Bergstrand Swenson ’82, Lhotka Blackstad, and Christina Swenson Paulsen ’15.
In January, Leslyn Skog ’76 (l) of Davis, CA, visited Paula Johnson ’76 (r) at her work as curator at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Both women were in the Gustavus Band, Les on french horn and Paula on bassoon. They had not seen each other for nearly 50 years!
Congratulations to Nicholas Kerbeshian ’21, a former distance runner for Gustavus, and his Three Crowns tattoo on placing 129th out of 28,408 runners in the Boston Marathon, finishing in the top one percent.
These three ladies are from the Class of 1955 at their 70th class reunion. L to r: Jackie Carlson, Marilyn Brust Johnson, and Joan Bonn Wright.
L to r: Pastor Dwight Rudquist ’82, who retired in May, with Lisa Gstalder Rudquist ’82, Miriam Lind Lagus ’61, and Arne Lagus. They have worshiped together most Sundays at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taylors Falls, MN, the past six years.
Three generations of Gusties at Reunion Weekend in May. L to r: Katherine Welbaum Iverson ’90, Ingrid Iverson ’20, and Kristin Nelson Welbaum ’65.