A counselor, a teacher and a cook have decided it is time to hang it up and retire. Annandale High School counselor Jim Lipsiea, elementary teacher Ruth Bahe and middle school cook Pat Mauer have given over 85 combined years of service to Annandale School District 876.
Jim Lipsiea
Lipsiea attended Mayville High School in North Dakota in 1975, and eventually graduated from Mayville State College with double majors in English and history with a journalism minor. He was also certified to teach grades seven through 12.
Lipsiea did not want to teach right away, so he went to Mankato State for a master’s degree in special education. Lipsiea liked the Mankato area so he looked for a teaching job nearby. He was hired to teach English, psychology and writing in 1983 at St. Clair High School.
"In addition, I was the athletic director, community education director, testing coordinator and softball coach. I also supervised every home athletic event for every sport and was the school counselor for $14,000 a year," Lipsiea said. "I loved St. Clair, but I was teaching 35 kids in a portable trailer located next to a dumpster with no air conditioning. It was not pleasant on hot days."
It was the counseling position that really interested Lipsiea.
"A light bulb went off in my head telling me I wanted to be a counselor," Lipsiea said. "I went to school at night and got my second master’s in counseling at Mankato State."
In 1986 Lipsiea applied for 10 counseling positions around the state. He received invitations to interview at all 10 districts but ended up interviewing at only two of them.
In the spring of 1986 he drove to Annandale.
"I had never heard of Annandale," Lipsiea said. "I had to look it up on the map. When I drove into town and saw a bustling main street, I said to myself, ‘I want to get this job. I have to get this job.’"
Lipsiea was interviewed by Steve Niklaus, who had just been hired as the Annandale High School principal, assistant principal Ron Helget and Superintendent Larry Blow.
"I was offered the job the same day," Lipsiea said.
Lipsiea replaced Otto Sorenson, who was retiring.
"I feel I was lucky on two fronts," Lipsiea said. "I stumbled into counseling in my first job. Then I landed here."
Being a counselor
Lipsiea says that even today parents do not understand what a counselor does. He spends about 50 percent of his time with career counseling, 20 percent helping students with personal and family problems, and 30 percent with scheduling, record keeping and special education staffing meetings.
"An intern shadowed me last year and kept track of the number of interactions I had during a single school day," Lipsiea said. "Not including a simple ‘Hi,’ she counted over 100 incidents.
Annandale scholarships
Lipsiea is also in charge of the Annandale scholarship program.
"I think one of the things that Jim is proudest of is the growth of the local scholarship opportunities for our students," said Annandale High School principal Scot Kerbaugh.
When Lipsiea started the program only four scholarships totalling $2,000 were given out. This spring 75 scholarships for a total of $80,000 were given to students.
"That is a very large scholarship program for a school district our size," Lipsiea said. "That is all local money, and that tells you a great deal about our community."
"His work load is amazing," said Superintendent Steve Niklaus, who worked with Lipsiea for five years in the 1922 building and one year at the new high school. "His performance over the past 30 years has made a huge difference to our school and community."
Made a difference
"When you are as good as Jim is, the students know the exceptionally good assistance they will get. He is a classic professional," said Niklaus.
"Mr. Lipsiea was someone that I could go to in high school to talk about a range of topics," said 2013 AHS graduate Will Dammann. "Whether it was about classes, college or life outside of school, he was someone I could go to and he would always give it to me straight."
Two years ago, despite having nearly a full-ride scholarship to the Carlson School of Management Dammann was determined to go to Gustavus Adolphus College.
"I had been suffering with severe depression and anxiety for the past year, and I couldn’t imagine going to the ‘big city’ where I would know no one," Dammann said.
Lipsiea called Dammann into his office to have a discussion about his choice.
"Mr. Lipsiea sat me down and said, ‘What the hell are you doing? You have a full ride to one of the best schools in the country, but you are going to go to Gustavus and assume a large amount of debt,’" Dammann said.
Lipsiea advised Dammann to visit the Minneapolis campus one more time.
"I took his advice and from that moment on, my life has never been the same," Dammann said. "I have gone from being a freshmen in a class of 5,000 to the executive board of two of the largest organizations on campus: the Student Government and the Interfraternity Council.
"I have had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., twice to advocate for higher education interests, lobbying for countless hours at the Minnesota state capitol, and have met with some of the most important people in our state. I owe all of this to Mr. Lipsiea and I will never forget that."
"He believed his job was to provide a service to the students, parents and staff of this school community and no one has ever done it better," Kerbaugh said. "This job was never about Jim, it was about what he could do to help someone else."
Lipsiea actually retired in 2014, but agreed to come back to help with the transition that would be necessary for the new counselor that was hired, Rachel Dayton.
"It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to be mentored by Mr. Lipsiea," Dayton said. "Jim is one of the most genuine and caring people I’ve had the honor to know. He is a legend in the counseling field and someone who is respected for his knowledge and compassion for those he serves. Mr. Lipsiea has humbly assisted students, families and the Annandale community for 29 years and in that time has dedicated himself to improving the lives of others. Our entire community will miss his gentle and steadfast guidance."
As an Annandale graduate, AHS social worker Lori Steffen had Lipsiea as her counselor. For the last 17 years he has been her co-worker and friend.
"He has been an amazing mentor, guide and support," Steffen said. "Jim is committed to meeting the needs of students, is able to guide with understanding, problem solve with creativity and build on the individual strengths and personalities of the each and every student he has worked with.
"He has that amazing ability to see each student in their wonderful, individual uniqueness and helping them pursue the path to their dreams. His compassion for others is boundless. As a mentor, he has helped me grow in knowledge and confidence. I will miss him greatly. Jim has touched the lives of many students and families leaving behind a legacy that most of us can only aspire to."
Lipsiea estimates that he has had over 5,000 seniors come through his office over the years.
"It is a gift," Lipsiea said. "I had the opportunity to really know them and share in their lives."
Retirement plans
"I am going to take six months and embrace the uncertainty of it all," Lipsiea said. "The hardest part will be severing the relationships with the kids."
Lipsiea has been single for 10 years and lives in Annandale. He has two grown children, Alyssa and Sutton.
Alyssa just received her master’s in higher education leadership at the University of Iowa and has just taken a position at the College of St. Benedict’s. Sutton lives with his father.
Ruth Bahe
Ruth Bahe has been a teacher in the Annandale school district since the fall of 1978.
"We have always teased Ruth that she was a lot like Mr. Rogers, only when she comes into school, she changes shoes, not her sweater," said third grade teacher Britta Aycock. "Over the years, she has been known to begin her day by wearing one black shoe and one brown shoe, but it isn’t until later in the morning that she or someone else has noticed."
Bahe, a third-grade teacher this past year at Annandale Elementary School, grew up in Minneapolis, graduating from Washburn High School in 1974.
Bahe received her degree in elementary education from Bemidji State University in 1978.
While Bahe was in college her parents bought a cabin on East Lake Sylvia near Old Boy Scout Bay.
She was earning money by painting at the cabin when she learned that Annandale would be hiring teachers. According to present principal Allyson Kuehn, Bahe sent in a hand-written letter asking to be considered for the open positions.
She was interviewed by Bendix principal Arlan Johnson.
She had offers from the Pine City and Annandale school districts. She chose Annandale since she would be able to save some money living at her parents’ cabin.
"There were many teachers hired that year," Bahe said. "I was hired a week after my interview."
Bahe’s first assignment was first grade, then fourth grade.
"Arlan liked us to move around," Bahe said. "We called it a ‘fruit basket upset’ and were moved about every four years.
"Lately I have bounced between second and third grade. Twice I did a second third-grade loop, where I had the same class of kids two years in a row."
Bahe said her favorite year to teach is third grade.
"Our first year at the new school, Annandale Elementary, Ruth went to use the restroom before picking her class up from specialists," Aycock said. "When she grabbed the door handle to leave, she couldn’t get out. She tried pounding and yelling for help. Thankfully, a brave third-grader decided to free the teacher. Needless to say, we had our own bathroom check in and out system until the lock on the bathroom door was fixed."
Bahe runs into many former students.
"I recently ran into a former student of mine at a Walmart parking lot," Bahe said. "He came up and gave me a big hug. He was wearing sunglasses and I was not really sure who he was, but I finally figured it out. Every year when the graduation issue comes out in the Advocate I look it over to find former students that I had. I often cannot find the 25 kids I had then. I guess a lot of them move away in middle school."
Teaching third grade has changed since the 1970s.
"When I first started teaching we did not have the high-stakes testing we have today," Bahe said. We had the Iowa tests, but they were not made public like they are today with the tests our students take. The pressure on the teachers is a great deal higher to have the students perform well on the reading and math tests."
Bahe said that the thing she most enjoyed most about teaching was that every day and every school year brought something different.
"Some people think that a teacher just teaches the same thing year in and year out," Bahe said. "Every year it is different kids with different needs and abilities."
Technology accounts for the biggest changes she has seen in teaching.
"When I started there were no computers and there was only one telephone per pod of classrooms," Bahe said. "No smart boards, just overheads, film strip projectors and movies. Now we have computers and iPads for the kids. They are plugged in electronically now. Kids nowadays need to be entertained more. I am old fashioned and teach my kids how to use a real dictionary. I brought in a set of encyclopedias to have the kids use them for a report, letting them know there was an alternative to the Internet."
Bahe is on her fourth principal. She worked for Johnson, Jim Unger, Tracy Reimer and Allyson Kuehn.
"Ruth brings a rich background of experience and knowledge with her into the classroom," said Reimer. "Though this is a definite strength, what is even more impressive is that she is a life-long learner, is willing to try new ideas and continues to work to improve her instruction.
"Ruth’s calm demeanor and reflective nature are appreciated by teaching peers, parents of her students, and administration. All of these characteristics will be missed."
She has seen three superintendents: Blow, Connor and now Niklaus.
"In my eyes, Ruth has always modeled for me that it is the little things in life you do that matter, whether it be helping a colleague find a missing book, teaching a skill for a child in a unique way or remembering a friend’s birthday," Aycock said. When I had my third child, Ruth showed up with dinner for my family. One of things on the menu was barbecues. My middle daughter, who was 4 at the time, couldn’t quite pronounce barbecues perfectly. To this day, our family calls them barb-a-cubes."
Retirement plans
Bahe plans to do some substitute teaching during her retirement.
"It will be nice to stay connected with kids," Bahe said. "It will be nice to be able to enjoy Sunday nights. No worries about what you were going to each on Monday morning. I will enjoy reading the morning paper in the morning, rather than late in the day. I am looking forward to enjoying fall days. Fall seems to go by so fast when you are a teacher. I am also looking forward to spending more time with my mom, who still lives out at the lake."
Bahe and her husband Gerry live in Annandale and raised two children. Kyle and Nathan are both AHS graduates.
Pat Mauer
Mauer has been a cook in the Annandale School District for 20 years. She spent 14 years at Bendix Elementary and has been a cook at the Annandale Middle school for the last six years.
Born in Nebraska, she also lived in Danube, Minnesota before moving to Annandale in 1966. Mauer was the oldest of six children and her father was a lineman for Northern States Power.
"I have really enjoyed working for the school," Mauer said. "I have had lots of great ladies to work with and work under."
Things have changed in the 20 years working as a cook in the schools.
"We have all the fresh fruits and vegetables now and not as much bread," Mauer said. "But the kids have adjusted and so have I. When the fifth grade left the middle school, we had to do with one less cook. Now there are just two of us. The cooks now have to take special classes from the department of health about cooking and food safety."
Mauer lives in South Haven with her husband George, former owner of George Mauer Building and Remodeling. The two have been married 48 years.
"George has been after me for three years to retire, but I just was not ready," Mauer said. "This year, I woke up one morning and said to myself ‘Now is the time.’"
The couple has two children, Kristen, a 1990 Annandale graduate, and Adam, who graduated in 1991. Adam and Kristen were adopted from Korea.
In retirement, Mauer plans to spend more time with her flowers and vegetable garden. She also enjoys canning. The Mauers have a cabin on a lake near Park Rapids and they plan to spend a lot more time there.
"A fire destroyed thousands of pine trees two years ago," Mauer said. "What once was a beautiful stand of pines, now looks like the Sierra Desert. We recently planted 17,000 trees to replace them."
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