Mayville High School Class of 1949: 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Another 60th Reunion Picture

Delores Evans sent this, and also many other pictures that are on the 50th and 55th reunion pages, as well as the group pictures from our High School days.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

I had intended to go to the 55th reunion five years ago and was all set up with a plane ticket and Hotel reservation at the Hotel across the street from Paula's cafe. I think they called it the Super 8 then. Then my sister Amy passed away a month before the reunion and I changed my ticket to go to the funeral. I never made it to the reunion that time.

So for the 60th, I was ready. With the invitation to bring family members, I invited my cousin Neil Leum (class of 52) to come along, since he would know everybody anyway. That way we could hang out in the Mayville area a couple days and get re-acquainted with relatives. Neil lives in Lakewood, MN near Minneapolis, so we met Friday night at the hotel across from Paula's cafe, now the Mayville Home Town Inn, which turned out to be very good and very handy.

We toured the Mayville area bars that night and the cemeterys, Mayville museum and relatives Harry Leum and my brother Willard's farm the next day.

We arrived at the reunion and saw a group that I didn't recognize. It turned out to be Corrine (Skarperud) Dahl, Nels Lande and some others. After figuring out who was who, Neil and I went to the back room bar and had a beer with Robert Von Ruden. I also, about this time, ran into Arlene (Tunseth) Olson who said she needed to go out for a smoke. Since my wife also smokes, I am very tuned into this and went out with her. Arlene and I started country school together in the first grade (at Norway #2) so we have a long history. We had a good discussion out in the smoking area.

When I went back in, most of the group had arrived. I found a seat near Wyman and Helen Holland and Milt Winger. This was great since these were my old friends. When the dinner orders were taken, I warned Wyman not to order the steak because Neil and I had tried it the night before and it was the toughest piece of meat ever. So we had the Walleye.

I saw Duane Nysveen and mentioned that the last time I saw him at the 40 year reunion he had a full beard. He seemed to deny this. Was I wrong and it was not him?

I also ran into Helen Hanson Olson, who I also started first grade with. She said her daughter is now at the Juilliard Music School at Lincoln Center in New York. Was I impressed!

The program was good. It was about being on the honor roll, which I have come to think is not very important. Anyway it was good.

I also sat next to Bernie Kyllo. Bernie had brought a photo album containing most of the original high school graduation portraits. I lost mine a long time ago, and also can't find the yearbook anymore. I suggested to Bernie that we should scan those old pictures and put them on a web page for our class. Bernie was agreeable to this and we did this later.

At the last part of the reunion, we lined up for the group photo, which you can see below. After the reunion, Neil and I headed over to the Top Hat. Since we could walk to our hotel and the Top Hat from Paula's it was very convenient. At the Top Hat we had a final beer or two with Arlene, Gladys, and I think some others. It was all very enjoyable.

Bob Van Wechel

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Newspaper Clipping from Wyman Holland

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Trial balloon blog

08/06/09: Dear classmates & friends: I was enjoying the reunion and as the discussion was warming up, remembered my promise to call home by cellphone when I arrived at the gates of Mayville. I had also forgotten my cellphone in the car, so I left around 8:15 to make the call and the phone was ringing its bells off when I got in the car. The respite gal said that Marge was upset so I plead guilty to the sin and decided to return to GF. I wanted to meet and talk with all of you before the occasion was done but it didn't work out. So many times promises are made and forgotten but one that was not was Bob's offer to set up the blog site. I have had some family things keep me busy the past couple of weeks and I just got around to see the quick response that was made by Bob. We now see why he was so successful in his career...he gets thing done! Thanks Bob and all. From Milt Winger

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Invocation Prayer for the 60th Reunion

We as the Supreme Power of the Universe whom we know as God:

To give us courage and strength to continue our life's journey in dignity, however long that may be.

Forgive us for the times we have been too caught up in our own problems and have neglected the small things that would mean so much to others during their times of stress and trial.

Please comfort the friends and families of our classmates who have ended their life's journey. Also comfort the classmates who have suffered losses of loved ones.

Make us aware of the many good things we have received during the past 60 years.

Your humble servants, the Mayville High School class of 1949. Amen

by Milton Winger, class of 49