SwedeHearts - Curtis '91 & Cherie Thelen

February 8, 2022

"My wife and I Cherie did meet at Bethany before I graduated in 1991..  Cherie (Cibolski) was 2 years younger and therefore was a Freshman living in ASH in November 1989.  I had seen her on campus and looked up where she lived in the school directory and went to knock on her door.   She was working (in the caf dishroom) at that moment but her roommate Tricia invited me in to wait.  Cherie arrived a few minutes later, admittedly a little tired from work, and fairly quickly asked me to leave as she thought I was there to see Tricia.  I left a little miffed when Tricia ran down the hall and asked me to come back the next night as she thought Cherie was just tired from work.  I found out later that Tricia then asked Cherie why she was so cold to me, and Cherie admitted I was probably there just to see Tricia. Tricia then said that I had actually asked to see Cherie when I arrived and was a little miffed at being asked to leave so quickly.

 

I did return the next night and began speaking with Cherie even more.  I learned that she got a sack lunch from the caf a few days a week due to her class schedule and as I worked serving breakfast, I was able to add little notes on napkins in her sack lunch!  We eventually went out on a date (our second date was to church services together with my roommate as well).  We continued to date during my last 3 semesters at Bethany and then were married in June of 1992 (catered by the caf group from Marriott at the time!) in Concordia, KS and have been happily married since!"


More SwedeHearts
Banner depicting Dean Coughenour with the words Dean Coughenour Trust Scholarship
August 25, 2025
Bethany College today announced the establishment of the Dean Coughenour Endowed Scholarship in Business. The scholarship will be awarded annually to returning Bethany College business majors to support their continued studies and internship opportunities.
Banner depicting faculty with students in a classroom, with a quote from a Bethany alum
August 20, 2025
Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) is proud to highlight the pivotal role its faculty play in sustaining and developing local education programs. Through direct involvement in teacher preparation and community partnerships, Bethany College faculty are shaping the future of education in Kansas.

Banner depicting Patricia Smith’s headshot with her title of Sideline Cheer Coach
July 25, 2025
Bethany College is proud to announce the return of sideline cheer, launching with the 2025–26 academic year. Leading the program is newly appointed head coach Patricia Smith, an experienced educator and cheer coach. Sideline cheer will return to Bethany’s home football and basketball games.
More News