2024 Alumni Awards
Outstanding Graduate Award was given to John Bonderson – Class of 1952
John was born on March 3, 1934, on a small farm three miles west of Taylors Falls, MN. He was the oldest of seven siblings including a brother and five sisters. John graduated from Taylors Falls High School in 1952, a class of only 17 students.
Four years later (1956), John graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, MN, concentrating on courses in Sociology and Psychology, and specifically a major in Social Work. With summer jobs, a small scholarship, and working in the college cafeteria he was able to complete each year without debt. The average cost per year at that time was $1000 including tuition, room and board and books.
Debt free he entered the military service, as a regular draftee, a requirement at that time even in peacetime. After basic training and clerk typist school his permanent assignment was to SETAF HDQRS (Southern European Task Force) in Verona, Italy, working first as a clerk in G2 Intelligence and later as a Chaplain’s Assistant where he completed his two year military service.
Returning to the U.S., John found jobs available in the social services field. Over a period of 30 to 40 years he was employed in county departments of social welfare primarily in child welfare services and later in adult mental health. These were both direct casework and supervisory services. During that time John spent time in Cass and Olmsted Counties, then mostly in Hennepin County – all in Minnesota. It was also during that time that John took a two-year leave and earned his Masters Degree at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York.
A more revealing break was the time he served in the U.S. Peace Corp, from 1963 -1965 in Lima Peru, in South America. John volunteered in a community development group where the majority were trained experienced nurses. He found that time a unique and rewarding experience in more ways than one for
himself as an American and hopefully also for the Peruvian natives with whom John lived and interacted.
John says that the most important change during this time was his marriage to Nancy Iverson in 1969. Nancy was from St Paul, MN, a graduate of Hamline University and an experienced elementary school teacher. After completing their employment careers in teaching and social services and raising two kids eventually resulting in 5 grandkids, they relocated to Port Ludlow, WA, on the Olympic Peninsula becoming legal residents in 2004.
In August 2023 John and Nancy sold and left Port Ludlow and returned to their Hudson townhouse which they’d always maintained, allowing yearly trips between Hudson and Port Ludlow. They’ve found being back in the midwest as full time residents, and at ages 90 and 82 years of age that one place becomes the best and only practical decision.
Outstanding Alumni/Faculty Award was given to Betty Hopkins – Class of 1964
Betty Hopkins was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and raised on Angel Hill in Taylors Falls. She was the only child of Florence and Ernest Hopkins. Betty’s father was a carpenter who remodeled an
old blacksmith’s shop into their home. Like many other kids in the neighborhood, she walked to school, hers being the first to attend the new building on West Street or “the flats,” as it was called. The hills also provided for great sledding in the winter months. In the summer she and her friends would walk down to the Interstate Park and even to Lake of the Dalles for swimming lessons. Another great opportunity for town kids was easily walking down to the Taylors Falls Public Library where the notable librarian, Mrs. Murdoch presided.
Elementary teachers: Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Connolly, Mrs. Boleman, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Dahl, and Mrs. Pearson must have made a great impression on her as she went on to make her career in
education. Betty was alway a good student and active in extracurriculars during high school: Senior Class Officer, Yearbook Staff, Paper Staff (Assistant and Co–Editor), “Our Town” cast,
Chorus (4 years), Band (4 years), Pep Band, FHA (4 years) and National Honor Society.
After high school graduation, Betty attended St. Cloud Teachers College which lead to teaching positions in Keokuk, Iowa, Shoreview, and St. Paul Academy. She became so much a part of her kindergarten class at SPA, that her entire class attended her wedding. She and her first husband were blessed with three children of their own: Jane, Susan, and Wade. Betty returned to the
Kindergarten Classroom in 1985, this time back on West Street at Taylors Falls ISD 120 where she would continue to strengthen learning and broaden the imaginations of five year olds until her
retirement in 2008.
Betty recalled some amazing continuing education she experienced during her teaching career: an extended workshop in Maine, National Kindergarten Convention in Chicago, and the Summer
of 1995 when she spent time learning about education “down under” in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, Betty earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of
Minnesota during the 1990s.
Betty loves to travel and she took the opportunity of summer breaks while teaching and time since retirement to see the world: a biking trip in Scotland, Northern California, Kenya, Switzerland, Germany, France, Canada, and Jamaica to name a few. Her other interests have included: Bible Study at her Trinity Lutheran Church, Book Clubs, Women’s Clubs, and her much cherished bicycling in the summer and ice skating in the winter.
Although Betty now lives way over in Lindstrom, she credits growing up and attending school in Taylors Falls to having been transformative. She expresses much appreciation for the teachers
she had at TF and the excellent education she received.
Outstanding Citizen Alumni Award was given to Diane Dedon – Class of 1964
Diane Louisa Dedon was born in 1946, one of five children of Lloyd and Bessie (Dibble) Dedon. Her family first settled in the Taylors Falls area in 1855 when her paternal great-grandparents immigrated from Sweden. Their son, Diane’s grandfather, was eleven years old at the time and astonishingly volunteered to fight during the U.S. Civil War! Land was available if settled and farmed and thus it was that the Dedons followed generations of Minnesota farmers.
Diane was the youngest of five, having two brothers (Lloyd – class of ‘46 and Roy – ‘52) and two sisters (Mary – ‘48 and Carol – ‘53) all attended TF country schools and Kingsbury with Diane the only one to attend the “new” Taylors Falls School on West Street. Since she was the only child at home after age 11, Diane was comfortable being alone and described herself as quiet and shy. She didn’t care for outside work and was perhaps a bit “spoiled.”
They had cousins in Lindstrom whom they visited, went “to town” once a week as needed, and maybe to the Twin Cities once a year. Diane kept herself busy as she was, not surprisingly, always a voracious reader. Her lifelong best friend, Lynn Anderson, lived
within walking distance of their farm and they’d spend hours meeting up and playing. The two stayed close until Lynn’s passing in 1986.
Diane started school in 1952 and had many of the same elementary teachers as those of us from the 60s and 70s: Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Connolly, Mrs. Boleman, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Dahl, and Mrs. Pearson. Her favorite subject in H.S. was German, taught by Mrs. Torkelson. Diane’s all time favorite teacher was Mrs. Ruth Cedargren who taught business, but more importantly was the Paper Staff and Yearbook Adviser. There were many hours that Mrs. C. mentored Diane and her love of the printed word. Diane was greatly involved in extracurricular activities in H.S.: Yearbook Staff (Co-Editor), Paper Staff (Assistant and Co–Editor), “Our Town” cast, Chorus (4 years), FHA (4 years) and National Honor Society.
After graduation, Diane left home for the first time to attend Hamline University where she majored in Elementary Education. Diane graduated in 1968 and immediately began a devoted career of teaching. After 31 years with Shoreview School District she retired to country life on her family’s home farm.
There was no resting on her laurels as Diane’s altruistic nature kept her giving back to her community. She’s been secretary to the Kabakong Cemetery for 23 years and literally knows where all the bodies are buried. Diane is very active in her church, First Methodist of Taylors Falls, and has had the best job for a book lover, Taylors Falls Public School Librarian since 2005. The “quiet and shy” little girl became the community woman as best described in the 1964 Bluejarian: “Her laughter is like a fountain – always bubbling over.”
Outstanding Citzen Alumni Award was given to Lynn Longnecker – Class of 1979
Lynn was born in 1960 to Delbert and Loyce Longnecter at the St. Croix Falls Hospital. His family moved from their TF apartment to a farm near Shafer when he was two, and then into “town” in 1971. Lynn felt that so many folks and merchants living in Taylors Falls
watched out for him as he grew up. In his senior year at TFHS, Lynn was a member of the Student Council and Lettermen’s Club. He played on the Bluejays Baseball Team that year. He graduated in 1979.
Lynn was always an ambitious individual, learning the value of hard work in his early years on the farm. He began working at age 11, bussing tables at the Falls Cafe/Chisago House, and for years worked at Wild Mountain Ski Area in the winter and for the Taylors Falls Boat Company in the summer eventually becoming boat captain.
Because he felt the townsfolk had been so kind to him, he gave back to his community by his membership and leadership in the following organizations: Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Taylors Falls Fire Department (25 years), City Council (first elected at age 22), TF City Mayor, Wannigan Days Committee, Methodist Church Life Member, Historical Society (20 years and served as Treasurer), SCRMC Volunteer, St. Croix Valley Healthcare and Kabakong Cemetery Boards.
In 2019, Lynn received the prestigious Stewardship Award from the City of Taylors for all his many contributions.
Lynn and his wife Pam married in 1989 and currently live on South Center Lake in Lindstrom, although they are still very much involved in the community life of T.F. To learn more on his upbringing and exceptional contributions to Taylors Falls, check out an article he wrote titled “Raised by a Village” in the Spring 2021, (Volume 21 No. 1) edition of the Taylors Falls Historical Society’s “Life & Times.”