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Wherefore Art thou Class of 1970?: The tale of nine Debbies

Probably it is because I had a rather uncommon first name, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a name that others could pronounce. Why couldn’t mom and dad have named me Sandy, Susie, Judy … or Debbie? Debbie! Now that is a nice name. In fact, Debbie is a beautiful name!

Of course Debbie comes from Deborah who was a judge in the Old Testament. She ruled Israel for 40 plus years and ruled her land with God’s ways and laws. Because of her decision to honor God, her country experienced unprecedented peace. Her story can be found in Judges 4 & 5. I encourage you to read it.

Debbie was a very popular name in 1951 and 1952 when most of the Havre High School Class of 1970 girls were born. If you combine those named Deborah and Debra, it is by far the most popular name. Other often used names are: Linda, Mary, Patricia, Susan, Barbara, Sandra and Kathleen.

In the HHS Class of 1970 there were nine Debbie’s: Conroy, Duty, Dykstra, Engdahl, Greytak, Grodahl, Kuhr, Koefod and Jones. Nine!

Through my job and Northern Montana Health Care as the Chaplain and Activity Director, I have had the privilege over the years of reuniting with some of my former classmates. To say it mildly, “I am blessed!”

I recently had a great time visiting with Debbie Kuhr Walters. Debbie comes back to Havre periodically to visit her parents Paul and Beverly Kuhr and catches up with old friends and classmates. Debbie started out studying floral design when she was connected to Shore’s Floral. Later she moved to Great Falls and Belgrade when her husband Dan worked for the railroad. During this time she worked for Herbergers.

But it was while working at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montana in Helena that Debbie met Bruce Walters and the adventures really began. For five years (2005-2010) they lived on a 32’ sailboat on the Gulf of Mexico and moored in Kemah, Texas. Fortunately, they watched Hurricane Ike from Arizona.

Debbie and Bruce spend the winters in Arizona and their summers in Montana as campground hosts. For two years they hosted at Chinamen’s campground near Canyon Ferry Dam, followed by a summer at Chief Looking Glass campground in the Bitterroot. Since May they have had their travel trailer at Charlie Waters campground on Bass Creek west of Stevensville, Montana.

Debbie has three sons: Ryan Shore, Jared and Derek Smith. She also has two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Several months ago, I received a call from one of my first friends when I came to town school at Devlin Elementary: Debbie Dykstra Ralston. Debbie had a great love of horses and the outdoors and being from a farm/ranch, I was just the friend for her! Unbeknownst to either Debbie or I, our parents knew each other.

Debbie lives near Bozeman near her daughter. She had lived in Arizona but chose to be near her daughter and grandchildren.

I sure hope Debbie comes to Havre sometime soon. I would love to reconnect with her. Who knows? We might even go on a horseback ride over the prairie pastures like we did back when we were first friends.

Over the years, my paths have often crossed with Debbie Koefod Healy. While recently attending a recognition dinner for Northern Montana Health Care, Debbie was introduced as the newest member of the NMHC Executive Board. Wow! Good choice! Debbie comes with a lot of health care work experience, community involvement and a great work ethic.

The other day, Debbie joined me at the Care Center for a tour. She visited with residents as we made our way through the halls, visited Grace Chapel and ended up in my office. We went over the 1970 HHS yearbook. We laughed and we cried as we shared memories and filled each other in on our classmate’s lives.

Debbie was born on October 8, 1952 barely making the cutoff date. Born at the Kennedy Deaconess Hospital, she arrived one month early and weighed only 4 and half pounds. Her parents were Don and Nora Koefod and she joined a brother, Mark.

She attended Montana State University, receiving her RN and Bachelor of Science degrees. She worked two years in Billings as a nurse. By chance, good fortune or God’s perfect timing, while skiing Bridger Bowl Debbie met the love of her life Tom Healy from Philadelphia. Love was in the air and she moved to Philadelphia and worked there for four months before her father fell ill and died. “I told Tom I had to go back to Havre. My brother, Mark, had died and now with dad gone, I needed to help my mother. I knew he would stay in Philadelphia but instead he said, ‘I’m coming, too.’” Since 1976, Tom and Debbie Healy have carried on Koefod Insurance, raised two sons, Jeff and Tim, and have been active members of our community. Jeff is taking over the business and Tim lives in Whitefish and operates Whitefish Lake Service cleaning, installing, etc. of docks on Whitefish Lake. Debbie and Tom are the proud grandparents of 3-year-old Ty whom she takes care of two days a week. Debbie and Tom love to ski, golf and walk. In addition, she enjoys scrapbooking and gardening.

For 18 years Debbie worked with doctors Richardson and Kelley and had the “best job in the whole world.”

Whew! Three of the nine Debbies! I am hoping to make contact with the other six. So, I’ll keep you posted. The Lord sure knew what He was doing when he blessed me with “Debbie Friendship.”

(Ila McClenahan is the Pastoral Care & Activity Director for Northern Montana Health Care.)

 

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