Thayer Alumni
The annual Thayer alumni banquet was held June 13 at Lorimor Community Center with 69 members and guests attending. Linda Huffman gave the welcome, and Dwayne Henrichs the invocation. The Lorimor Boosters prepared and served the meal. The business meeting was conducted by Huffman, who also gave the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports.
During the roll call of alumni members and guests, especially honored was Florence Crittenden Willets of Creston, from the class of 1941, celebrating 74 years. Raymond Johnston of Murray was also honored for attending with the class of 1941. Betty Johnston of Murray was honored for attending with the class of 1942, celebrating 73 years. Celebrating their 70th anniversary were members of the class of 1945: Jim McGuire of Thayer, Darlene Hibbard Wimmer of Afton, and Helen Lauffer Woolums of Des Moines. Celebrating their 65th anniversary were members of the class of 1950: Lela Loomis Dolecheck of Mount Ayr, Dwayne Henrichs of Thayer and Joan Wake Johnson of Murray.
Celebrating 60 years were Sharon Shroudemier Steward of Orient and Keith Bullock of Shannon City. Celebrating 55 years were Harold Downey of Afton and Catherine Beardsley Latimer of Creston from the class of 1960. Several notes were read from members who could not attend, including Mildred Hathaway Miller of Illinois, who is celebrating 77 years, graduating in 1938.
Also attending were: 1947, Pat Cook Smith of Afton; 1948, Avis Day Hainline of Creston and Ruby Crittenden Stephens of Shannon City; 1949, Lucille Lauffer Bellamy of Beaconsfield and Arizona and Doris Wolf Garner of Osceola; 1951, Phyllis Bailey Clark of Afton; Darlene Conklin Henrichs of Thayer and Robert Simon of Winterset; 1953, Robert Beardsley of Warsaw, Mo., Jack Quee of Afton and Donald Roan of Afton; 1954, Lyle Hannah of Truro and Wanda Perry McIntire of Afton; 1956, Barb Beardsley Fry of Creston; 1957, Gary Bailey of Winterset and Nola Huntsman Vorrath of Casey; 1958, Jerry Becker of Glidden, Marna Downey Becker of Afton, and Darrell Perry of Osceola.
Members present who attended Thayer, but graduated after East Union was formed were: 1961, Wayne Priest of Perry and Dorothy Eckels Vert of Lorimor; 1962, Ruby Bailey Cornelison of Winterset and Robert Denton of Creston; 1963, Allen Becker of Perry, Maxine Eckels Kilpatrick of Lorimor and Ray Medders of Northwood; 1964, Bonnie Huntsman Perdue of Winterset, Nancy Landers Medders of Northwood, and Linda Lundquist Huffman of Creston; 1969, Patty Huntsman of Shannon City and Cheryl Neisemier Whittington of Diagonal.
Also honored were Ellen Beardsley Browns of Murray, the youngest graduate attending Thayer who graduated from East Union in 1971, Robert Beardsley of Warsaw, Mo., for travelling the farthest, and the Beardsley family for having the most family members attending.
Linda Huffman conducted the annual game of Thayer Trivia. Trivia winners were the team of Phyllis Clark, Dwayne and Darlene Henrichs, Joan Johnson, and Wayne and Jennifer Priest.
A drawing for door prizes was held, and the following gifts were presented: O’Reilly gift cards, Ellen Browns and Dwayne Henrichs; First National Bank travel mugs, Betty Johnston, Ruby Stephens, and Jennifer Priest; Pliars from Afton Farmers’ Co-op, John Becker; Gloves from Afton Farmers’ Co-op, Mona Quee; Fareway gift cards, Pat Cook Smith and Jack Quee; Nationwide cap and koozie from Landers Insurance Agency, Marna Becker; Farm Mutual travel mug and koozie from Landers Agency, Don Roan; Year’s subscription to Afton Star Enterprise, Gale Steward; Gift card from El Ranchito, Ruby Cornelison; Gift card to T.J.’s in Afton, Gary Bailey; Year’s subscription to Our Iowa magazine donated by Ruby Stephens, Connie Bailey; Gift card to Purple Cow Antiques and Interiors and Kansas Street Deli and Market, Lucille Bellamy; and Gift cards to Up in Smoke in Afton, Connie Roan and Patty Huntsman. All door prizes were donated.
Next year’s banquet will be June 11, 2016, at the Lorimor Community Center. Anyone with memories of Thayer is welcome to attend. Contact Linda Huffman, 201 S. Park, Creston, IA 50801 or email huffman@iowatelecom.net to be placed on the mailing list.
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CHS Class of 1954
Creston High School class of 1954 will be at The Windrow 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. July 3. All classmates, spouses and friends are welcome.
For more information, call Don Duskin at 641-782-3717.