The ties to Midland University run nearly 80 years for members of the Johnson/Bartek/Langemeier/Osborne families.

Those families are being recognized during Homecoming weekend with the Distinguished Midland Family Award. They will be honored during the Alumni & Legacy Awards Brunch on Sunday, Sept. 28th at 11 a.m. at the Wikert Event Center.

It all began at Luther College in Wahoo in 1948 when Roger Johnson, the oldest of six children of Julius and Vera Johnson, enrolled. Eight years later, Julius and Vera would become the cooks at Luther College. When Luther College merged with Midland in 1962, the Johnsons made the move as well and would serve as managers for the Midland Student Union until 1965.

It sparked three more generations of family members making their way to Luther, and eventually, Midland. Julius and Vera’s daughter, Barb, enrolled at Luther where she met future husband, Don Bartek. Two decades later, Barb and Don would have four of their children (Steve, Doug, Amy, and Joe) enroll at Midland, ensuring that there was a Bartek attending Midland for a decade straight. Doug would also meet his wife, Lori O’Brien, while at Midland.

Julius and Vera’s twin sons (Gary and Larry) would attend Midland before enlisting in the United States Air Force while their youngest daughter, Marilyn Langemeier, started at Luther College and would eventually spend 12 years working at Midland, earning her degree in the process.

Another of Julius and Vera’s grandchildren, Jerry Osborne, would find his way to Midland while Roger’s grandson, Scott Olson, and Gary’s grandson, Christian Johnson, became the fourth generation members of the family to attend.

Julius and Vera currently have a scholarship in their name at Midland and they were recognized with the Distinguished Luther Family Award in 2014.

“Having been recognized with the Luther Distinguished Family Award and now as a Legacy Family is a great honor,” Steve Bartek ’82, said.

Steve said the family member who would be most proud of this honor would be his aunt, Marilyn, who passed away in 2024. 

“She was really the one at the core of all of this,” Steve said. “She was here while my grandpa and grandma were here and they all felt very comfortable. Marilyn had a great relationship with Midland. In her later years, I would bring her to campus and her face would light up.

“Dr. Caryl Steyer (who served a variety of roles in his 26 years at Midland) and his family were a very important part of Marilyn’s life and really took her under their wing after my grandparents left Midland.”

Steve played football and was involved in many other activities during his time at Midland, and he believes that variety is what separates Midland from other institutions.

“You are able to do things at Midland you can’t do at a big school,” he said. “It’s a great place, with great professors, and a gorgeous campus.”