A Slice of Pi
Pi Chapter
House Corporation
P.O. Box 22770
Lincoln, NE 68542-2770
Address Service Requested
unlgammaphibeta.com
f
Gamma Phi Beta - Pi Chapter
i
gammaphibetaunl
Mary Mapes Rankin '52 graduated from
Nebraska with a secondary teaching degree,
and married Duane Rankin. Duane and Mary
recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary
together. Their four children are scattered
between Houston, Chicago, and the Kansas
City area. Mary retired from teaching in 1993.
With an empty nest, Mary and Duane enjoyed
traveling, but now it is time to be with their
children and grandchildren. Mary still keeps in
contact with some of her pledge class sisters
and her pledge mother. She has many happy
memories of her days in Pi Chapter.
Sharon Witt Dunham '60 has served as
president of the Omaha Alumnae Chapter
of Gamma Phi Beta twice, and president
of Omaha Alumnae Panhellenic Association
where she currently serves as treasurer. From
1994-1998, she served on the International
Council of Gamma Phi Beta as alumnae vice
president. Prior to that, she was province
alumnae director XV and director of alumnae
operations. Sharon's pledge mom, Jeannine
Fenton Jacobs '59, spent a couple of days
with her while she was in Nebraska for her
60th high school class reunion. While neither
of them can remember for sure, Sharon
believes they hadn't seen each other since
college. Email: sdunham25@gmail.com
Carly Kittelson Fenster '62 moved north of
Atlanta, Ga., with her husband, Lanny, three
years ago, and they live on Lake Lanier. They
still farm and grow pecans. Their girls and
family all live in the same area, so life is good
for Carly! Email: carlyfenster@gmail.com
Sandra Spangler Lebens '62 and her
husband, Frank, love to travel all over the
world on adventures and cruises. Last summer
they traveled to Italy, Switzerland, and France
before going to Arua, Uganda, on a mission
trip. Their youngest son and his wife began a
school there five years ago, which is thriving
through donations and sponsorships of the
300 children. Sandra had the opportunity to
work with the staff of the school on teaching
techniques. She was excited to brush the
cobwebs off of her teaching skills! Email:
sjaloha@sbcglobal.net
Barbara Dorothy Beninato '72 is enjoying
retirement! She is still active with Rome
Symphony Orchestra, but not on a daily
basis. She also enjoys spending time with
her two grandsons and traveling. Email:
barbbeninato@gmail.com
Vicki Jones Jordan '74 retired in December
2017, after 40 years of federal service. She is
enjoying retired life! Two days per week, she is
back working with the Department of Defense
coaching and mentoring senior executives.
She also volunteers with her county's literacy
council, helping inmates at a local correctional
facility earn their GEDs and tutoring English
as a second language. She enjoys spending
more time with her three grandsons as well!
Email: keviev@verizon.net
Kristin Kruse Tyler '98 is sending all of her love
to her pledge class who became sisters over 20
years ago! Email: kristin.tyler@gmail.com
Meredith Hovis '13 is currently serving
as a campus missionary with Focus at the
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. She
has had the opportunity to interact with many
women at the U of I, particularly in the Greek
community. She shares the experience of
living with her Catholic faith in Gamma Phi
at Nebraska and encourages other young
women to allow their faith to drive their desire
to lead within their own respective chapters.
Email: mehovis2@gmail.com
Alumnae News
Haley Ringenberg '16, Robin Maher '16,
Keeleigh Thayn '16, Abbey Patera '16, Seri
Williams '16, and Abby Jo Hamele '16 at Crush
Formal, which took place on February 9.
Rachelle Johnson '18, Nikki Gotschall '18, and
Alex Stange '18 at Crush Formal.
