2021 Snowflake Days marquis
EILEEN TONDER
I have been a Coon Rapids resident since I was in 6th grade.. back when it was Coon Rapids Junior High and it was grades 6-7-8… a LONG time ago! I graduated in 1975 and I am still a Cardinal. My driveway boasts a Cardinal head which was a fund raiser when my daughters were in school. I touch it up every year. Both of my girls graduated from Coon Rapids and sometimes conferences were a little fun when they had a teacher I had!! I grew up across the park from former mayor Tim Howe and I graduated with the current mayor Jerry Koch. I took full advantage of Coon Rapids. Swimming at the Riverwind Country Club, marching in the flag line and taking some great trips with the Marching Band, dance line, gymnastics, skating for hours at Thorpe park. I worked at Country Club Markets, I worked for Jerry Wright (another Snowflake Marquis). I really got to know the people in Coon Rapids.
I was brought up with the attitude you can’t complain about something if you aren’t willing to do something about it. So I was a young adult when I took on my first girl school troop. I have to say we had the coolest part in the year end program. Every one else did appropriate sanctioned girl scout activities… my troop learned the “hustle” and brought down the house! Later a friend and I took on a group of Kindergartners and the troop last through their Elementary years. Including our own version of Troop Beverly Hills.
When I had my girls I worked in the nursery at church, taught Sunday School and confirmation. I chaperoned and planned youth events for the middle and high school. The most fun was chaperoning two mission trips – one to Juarez Mexico and one to Calais Maine. I also played in the bell choir. I chaired the 40th anniversary bridal fashion show.
School for my girls was so wonderful. LO Jacob had an amazing principal Elaine Burgess (another Snowflake Marquis) and she welcomed parents into the school to fill many roles. I held many positions in the PTO and we organized an event a month in those days. I worked in both my daughters classrooms once a month helping the teachers where needed. At the high school I was on the board for the cheerleaders and I co-chaired each of the girls All night graduation parties.
My girls both played sports in CRAA. I would have made a bad coach, so I was on the Board during softball and basketball seasons and did lots of paperwork. I found out that is just as important. I also volunteered with the Ice Skating school and their programs.
When I was 19 a business owner in Coon Rapids approached me to run for Miss Coon Rapids. After I got done laughing I realized he was serious and a family friend… so I couldn’t say no… Meet Miss Congeniality 1976. What I didn’t know then is years later I would move across the street from a family that was really involved in the Pageant. Twenty years later I retired from the pageant world, after doing pretty much everything there, and now they ask me back to mock interview or judge the pageant. I’ve also judged the Junior Royalty Pageant.
On the city level I have been on the Community Strength Foundation, the cities 50th anniversary celebration, I co-chaired the All School Reunion. I volunteered for several years with the North Star Lions and worked at the 4th of July tent and the parade and also at Concerts in the Park. I also volunteered for several years with the Firecracker Race the Coon Rapids Fire Department runs. I have worked on my class reunions- number 45 was this fall and it wasn’t a lot of fun! I attended the Citizen’s Police Academy several years ago and that was amazing. People seem to call me and I seem to say yes!
I am currently volunteering with The King’s Ranch. I love to cook and my organizational skills come in handy with big groups. I also get to volunteer doing something I really love. The Ranch hosts some timed events for dogs and I get to work with as many of them as needed!
I have owned my in-home daycare in Coon Rapids for 33 years. I am very lucky to have several 2nd generation kids currently in my care. This current group of kids has made several floats for the parade and even won first prize once. We donate water to the Firecracker Race and have our names on the T-shirts. The kids think its cool… I think we are teaching these kids to be part of a pretty great community- the City of Coon Rapids!!
I was brought up with the attitude you can’t complain about something if you aren’t willing to do something about it. So I was a young adult when I took on my first girl school troop. I have to say we had the coolest part in the year end program. Every one else did appropriate sanctioned girl scout activities… my troop learned the “hustle” and brought down the house! Later a friend and I took on a group of Kindergartners and the troop last through their Elementary years. Including our own version of Troop Beverly Hills.
When I had my girls I worked in the nursery at church, taught Sunday School and confirmation. I chaperoned and planned youth events for the middle and high school. The most fun was chaperoning two mission trips – one to Juarez Mexico and one to Calais Maine. I also played in the bell choir. I chaired the 40th anniversary bridal fashion show.
School for my girls was so wonderful. LO Jacob had an amazing principal Elaine Burgess (another Snowflake Marquis) and she welcomed parents into the school to fill many roles. I held many positions in the PTO and we organized an event a month in those days. I worked in both my daughters classrooms once a month helping the teachers where needed. At the high school I was on the board for the cheerleaders and I co-chaired each of the girls All night graduation parties.
My girls both played sports in CRAA. I would have made a bad coach, so I was on the Board during softball and basketball seasons and did lots of paperwork. I found out that is just as important. I also volunteered with the Ice Skating school and their programs.
When I was 19 a business owner in Coon Rapids approached me to run for Miss Coon Rapids. After I got done laughing I realized he was serious and a family friend… so I couldn’t say no… Meet Miss Congeniality 1976. What I didn’t know then is years later I would move across the street from a family that was really involved in the Pageant. Twenty years later I retired from the pageant world, after doing pretty much everything there, and now they ask me back to mock interview or judge the pageant. I’ve also judged the Junior Royalty Pageant.
On the city level I have been on the Community Strength Foundation, the cities 50th anniversary celebration, I co-chaired the All School Reunion. I volunteered for several years with the North Star Lions and worked at the 4th of July tent and the parade and also at Concerts in the Park. I also volunteered for several years with the Firecracker Race the Coon Rapids Fire Department runs. I have worked on my class reunions- number 45 was this fall and it wasn’t a lot of fun! I attended the Citizen’s Police Academy several years ago and that was amazing. People seem to call me and I seem to say yes!
I am currently volunteering with The King’s Ranch. I love to cook and my organizational skills come in handy with big groups. I also get to volunteer doing something I really love. The Ranch hosts some timed events for dogs and I get to work with as many of them as needed!
I have owned my in-home daycare in Coon Rapids for 33 years. I am very lucky to have several 2nd generation kids currently in my care. This current group of kids has made several floats for the parade and even won first prize once. We donate water to the Firecracker Race and have our names on the T-shirts. The kids think its cool… I think we are teaching these kids to be part of a pretty great community- the City of Coon Rapids!!
50+ YEARS OF SNOWFLAKE DAYS MARQUIS
2020 - Shannon Moen
2019 - Scott Latta
2018 - Tim Howe
2017 - Suzanne Leggate
2016 - Bruce Sanders
2015 - Ted Schmolke
2014 - John Leggate
2013 -
2012 -
2011 -
2010 -
2009 - Sandy Delmore
2008 -
2007 - Jerry Koch
2006 - Marge Christianson
2005 - Scott Schulte
2004 - Nancy Mahowald
2003 - Steve Wells
2002 - Lynda Van Driel
2001 - Keith Howard
2000 - Mike Peterson
1999 -
1998 - Dave McCauley
1997 - Phyl & Will Erickson
1996 - Doris Schulte
1995 - Pat Novack
1994 - Elaine Burgess
1993 - Carolyn Voss
1992 - Sookie Harris
1991 - Bob Lewis
1990 - Margaret Tjosvold
1989 - Jerry Wright
1988 - Gary Bray
1987 - Al Soliday
1986 - Bruce Frank
1985 - Peter Bodley
1984 - Doris Schulte
1983 - George White
1982 - Bob Powell
1981 - Roy Johnson
1980 - James Rainbow
1979 - Arch Pease
1978 - Mike Casey
1977 - George Jensen
1976 - Erling Johnson
1975 - Linda Schewe
1974 - Tom Engfer
1973 - Bob Voss
1972 - Marlowe McCrady
1971 - Dave Collins
1970 - Ken Smith
1969 - Chuck Austin
1968 -
NOTE: If anyone has information on who the Marquis was for the blank years above, please email dianebuszta@yahoo.com.
2019 - Scott Latta
2018 - Tim Howe
2017 - Suzanne Leggate
2016 - Bruce Sanders
2015 - Ted Schmolke
2014 - John Leggate
2013 -
2012 -
2011 -
2010 -
2009 - Sandy Delmore
2008 -
2007 - Jerry Koch
2006 - Marge Christianson
2005 - Scott Schulte
2004 - Nancy Mahowald
2003 - Steve Wells
2002 - Lynda Van Driel
2001 - Keith Howard
2000 - Mike Peterson
1999 -
1998 - Dave McCauley
1997 - Phyl & Will Erickson
1996 - Doris Schulte
1995 - Pat Novack
1994 - Elaine Burgess
1993 - Carolyn Voss
1992 - Sookie Harris
1991 - Bob Lewis
1990 - Margaret Tjosvold
1989 - Jerry Wright
1988 - Gary Bray
1987 - Al Soliday
1986 - Bruce Frank
1985 - Peter Bodley
1984 - Doris Schulte
1983 - George White
1982 - Bob Powell
1981 - Roy Johnson
1980 - James Rainbow
1979 - Arch Pease
1978 - Mike Casey
1977 - George Jensen
1976 - Erling Johnson
1975 - Linda Schewe
1974 - Tom Engfer
1973 - Bob Voss
1972 - Marlowe McCrady
1971 - Dave Collins
1970 - Ken Smith
1969 - Chuck Austin
1968 -
NOTE: If anyone has information on who the Marquis was for the blank years above, please email dianebuszta@yahoo.com.