LORIMOR – The annual Thayer Alumni Banquet was held June 10 at the Lorimor Community Center with 49 members and guests attending. Linda Huffman gave the welcome and Dwayne Henrichs the invocation. The Lorimor Boosters prepared and served the delicious meal. The business meeting was conducted by Huffman, who also gave the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports. Later in the meeting, Jack Quee made a motion to raise Huffman’s stipend to $100. The motion was seconded and passed. The 2018 banquet will be held June 9 in Lorimor Community Center with the boosters catering the meal.
Alumni celebrated all who attended during the roll call of alumni members and guests. Especially honored were members of the class of 1945, celebrating 72 years, Darlene Hibbard Wimmer and Donald of Afton and Bonnie McGuire, wife of Jim McGuire of Thayer. Attending from the class of 1949 was Doris Wolf Garner and Gerald of Osceola. Dwayne Henrichs of Thayer attended from the class of 1950, and Darlene Conklin Henrichs of Thayer and Bob Simon of Winterset attended from the class of 1951.
Don Roan and Jack Quee and Mona, all from Afton, attended from the class of 1953. Attending from the class of 1954 were Wanda Perry McIntire and John of Afton, Lyle Hannah and Marilyn of Truro and Raymond Johnston and his wife Betty of Murray, who attended kindergarten. Celebrating their 60th anniversary were Nola Huntsman Vorrath and Earl of Casey and Gary Bailey and Connie of Winterset. Jerry Becker of Glidden and Darrel Perry of Osceola attended from the class of 1958. Harold Downey of Afton attended from the class of 1960.
Members present who attended Thayer, but graduated after East Union was formed were: 1962 – Ruby Bailey Cornelison of Winterset and Bob Denton and Linda of Creston; 1963 – Ray Medders of Northwood, Maxine Eckels Kilpatrick of Lorimor and Allen Becker of Perry; 1964 – Gary Becker of Perry, Nancy Landers Medders of Northwood, Bonnie Huntsman Perdue and Terry McDowell of Winterset, Ron Goodridge of Urbandale and Linda Lundquist Huffman and Jerry of Creston. Celebrating their 50th anniversary were Mary Lewis Seales of Thayer and Chuck Lundquist and Patricia of Omaha, Nebraska. Attending from the E.U. class of 1969 were Cheryl Neisemier Whittington of Diagonal and Patty Huntsman of Shannon City. Ralph Lundquist of Solon, with the class of 1970, was the youngest graduate present. Guests present were Judy Dalton Chastain of Afton, Mary and Wayne Hill of Afton and Glenn Norris of Johnston, who graciously provided the sound equipment for the banquet.
The E.U. class of 1964 was honored as the class with the most members present. Two families tied with the most members present – the Beckers and Huntsmans. Ray and Nancy Landers Medders were awarded First National Bank travel mugs for traveling the farthest.
Before the annual game of Thayer Trivia was played, Huffman read a story about Thayer’s “drive-in movies” written by Ron Goodridge. Trivia winners with nine correct answers were the team of Wayne and Mary Hill, Ralph Lundquist, Mary Seales and Chuck and Patricia Lundquist. Second place honors with eight correct were the team of Harold Downey, Darrel Perry, Maxine Kilpatrick, Allen Becker and Jerry Becker.
A drawing for door prizes was held, and the following gifts were presented: Purple Cow and Kansas Street Deli gift card to Darlene Wimmer; T.J.’s gift card to Dwayne Henrichs; El Ranchito gift card to Chuck Lundquist; year’s subscription to Afton Star Enterprise to Bonnie Perdue; Hy-Vee gift cards to Cheryl Whittington and Ray Medders; Fareway gift cards to Nola Vorrath and Darlene Henrichs; First National Bank travel mugs to Marilyn Hannah and Patricia Lundquist; Farmer’s Co-op hummingbird feeder to Don Roan; Pleasant Valley cookbook to Doris Garner and Pleasant Valley Church plate to Gary Bailey. Extra help was appreciated from Maxine Kilpatrick, Terry McDowell, Glenn Norris and Gary Bailey.
Everyone was appreciated who attended and shared photos and memorabilia. After the meeting was adjourned, visiting and photos were enjoyed by all.