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2007 Class of 1957 Reunion Here are some links to the 2007 reunion items:
2007 Reunion Photo Presentation by Carolyn & John Bellanti: The presentation is broken into two videos due to length and website restraints. The very lead-in portion of the video is not available but it only highlighted the two videos (2007 & 2002) so not much is missing.
For Internet Explorer and MS Media Player select the links below:
Please Note: These are very larger video files and therefore if you are using Dialup internet it may take a while to load and play videos.
For Safari and QuickTunes Player select -the links below:
Note: For Browsers Mozilla-Firefox, Netscape, Opera they will also work providing you have MS Media Player or QuickTunes Player Installed
2007 Reunion Photos taken by John Bellanti
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“Worthington High, raise her, praise her, up to the sky.” The Class of ’57 Celebrates a Fiftieth Reunion by Marlene (Bjerkesett) Jezierski
“And a good time was had by all” when WHS’ class of ’57 celebrated fifty years of surviving high school graduation. They gathered on three windy, brisk days on Turkey Day weekend, September 14-16, 2007. They came from all corners of the country. Sixty three classmates attended. Many faces were new to the reunion or hadn’t attended for many years. Spouses, partners, friends and family members brought the total count to 120 attending one or more of the activities over the three days. The count included teachers, Arnold Sexe and his wife, Reuben Svingen, Ken Thompson and Danny Regnier. A few hardy souls initiated the reunion festivities with a golf game at the Prairie View Country Club on Friday. Only madmen or Scotsmen would play in Worthington’s brisk prairie wind at temperatures hovering in the fifties, but the senior duffers were undaunted! Even though sunshine and balmy temperatures eluded them, for the most part, the golfers toughed it out until the bitter end. After the awards were handed out, they rushed to their rooms to thaw out. Joel Goldstrand and Butch Meyeraan organized the event and provided needed encouragement and humor throughout the 18 holes. Fifties Night followed that evening at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The ladies of the church prepared a delightful, reminiscent meal of sloppy joes, root beer floats, chips and bars. The gathering space was large and welcoming. The ladies decorated the place with black and red napkins and table centerpieces. Carolyn (Mork) and John Bellanti played a delightful CD of classmate pictures that they put together. Highlighted with fifties songs, the CD’s played continually on two screens so classmates could gather comfortably to enjoy the pictures and music. Saturday morning ushered in the various runs set up by the Turkey Day Committee which, it has been rumored, some classmates participated. The gun went off at 1 pm for the famous turkey race. Held on main street, Worthington’s Paycheck beat Texas’ Ruby Begonia by a mile, much to the delight of the half-frozen observers. Classmates recalled that years ago rather than a race, a herd of confused turkeys headed up the parade, leaving feathers and waste in their wake. A brave group of 30 or so classmates stepped up a thoughtfully provided stool to get onto the WHS Class of ’57 trailer. Seated comfortably on hay bales, classmates waved and shouted at folks along the parade route as they were hauled through downtown Worthington by their tractor driver, Myron Meyers. Many classmates’ relatives lined the streets to cheer them on, encouraging all to hang in there until the finish. Everyone made it! Saturday night was a delightful occasion with all gathering after a busy day of visiting with old friends and making new. The dinner was held at Worthington’s clubhouse on the municipal golf course. The place was hopping with mates and guests reuniting, reminiscing and reveling in being alive. Audrey (Grann) Johnson did a fine job as master of ceremonies. A class picture was taken. Many wondered who all those old people were on the picture. Those who have died were remembered when Marlene (Bjerkesett) Jezierski read their names and all spent a quiet moment in their memory. The final event of the reunion was held Sunday morning back at the country club with a farewell brunch. Weary but exhilarated, classmates took their leave, hoping we would all be together again five years hence. Several looked forward to mini-reunions in Arizona, Florida and Colorado. * The reunion committee received many words of appreciation from attendees. Planners included: Marilyn (Hindt) Gronert, Audrey (Grann) Johnson, Esther (Martin) Bearden, Barb (Wasmund) Johnson, Marlene (Bjerkesett) Jezierski, Leon Wiese, Joel Goldstrand, Butch Meyeraan, Rob Kramer, and Butch (Pfeil) Doeden. *Anyone traveling to those parts in the winter is encouraged to let someone in that area know you are coming; they will be delighted to arrange a classmate get-together. |