Rippey News, May 26, 2015
Please send your news item to Jean Borgeson at jeanb@iowatelecom.net
Annual Rippey alumni party: The Rippey alumni party was held Saturday, May 23, at the United Methodist Church in Rippey. The meal, consisting of Italian chicken, cheesy potatoes, corn, salad and pies, was served by Kevin and May Hick and their crew. Approximately 90 alumni, their families and friends enjoyed the meal.
The meeting was called to order by Mary Ann (Young) Miller and assisted by John Bardole, who stepped in at the last minute for Lynn Wilson, who was attending the funeral for his brother-in-law. All are 1959 graduates. Lynn and John were stepping in for Verdina (Odin)Hastings, who was attending the graduation of a granddaughter.Verdina is a 1958 graduate.
John led the group in The Pledge of Allegiance. Mary Ann Miller thanked Verdina Hastings, Gail Monthei and Jean Borgeson for helping with addresses, labels, stuffing and stamping the envelopes. Thanks were also given to the other people who stepped in to help.
The tables were set up by the Rippey Lions Club members on Thursday evening after their meeting so they could be set and decorated by Maralynn Rinker, Toni Roberts and Jean Borgeson on Friday.
Dick and Janice (McCurdy) Schlicht of the class of 1961 were in charge of getting the flowers, cookies and setting the tea table for after the meeting.
Mary Ann Hick thanked the alumni for the privilege of serving the dinner. She reported the money will be put into the church general fund this year.
The minutes of the 2014 meeting were read by John and the treasurers’ report was given by Mary Ann. She indicated that money was spent on the new flip chart to hold the alumni pictures at the library. This was done in conjunction with the Friends of Rippey. The library was opened for the afternoon so people could view the pictures on display.
Mary Weaver spoke about saving some slate from the blackboard from Mrs. Osborn’s fourth grade room. She gave credit to her husband Gary for helping shape them into Christmas ornaments and Roger Aegerter for painting them. She had some examples for sale.
Keith Devilbiss spoke of his involvement of laying brick for the two new additions at the school right after graduating. This led to his career in bricklaying and he considered it a real privilege to be constructing the monument on the site of the school. There are bricks from the school, cleaned and for sale. There will be special bricks ordered for the intended patio area to be laid later. These can be engraved and forms were handed out to the audience.
The monuments for Jake Peters and Charlie Tipton will be brought from the Grand Junction site and placed in this area. There is also a suggestion on the table to put a bench there in honor of Velda DeMoss.
Opening the copper box
LaVere Derry (left)) and Keith Devilbiss opened the copper box found on Sept. 30, 2014, during preparations related to the demolition of the Rippey Consolidated School in October, 2014. The contents were displayed for all to see.
Mary Ann introduced the Praise Powered Trio, consisting of Brenda Roberts, Mary Ann Hick and Melodee Graven. They sang a mixture of secular, sacred, and patriotic songs.
The class roll was read. There were 47 registered Rippey alumni.
Eleanor (Lofstedt) Whiton was given a red rose for being only representative of the class of 1938, the oldest class in attendance.
Twins Vernon and Veryl Fritz from the class of 1945 were celebrating their 70th year.
Connie (Grow) Palmer and Dan Peters from the class of 1955 were celebrating their 60th year.
Dan Peters gave the response to conclude the program. He centered his theme of how privileged he was to have grown up in Rippey and how his parents, Jake and Wilmuth Peters, as well as the people in the community, taught him the values he carried with him throughout his life. He concluded by saying, “Whenever anyone asks where I am from, I’m always is proud to say, Rippey, Iowa!”
A collection was taken and expenses paid. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting. Thus closes another Rippey High School reunion!
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Gary Schmidt, commander of Kinkead-Martin American Legion #583 of Rippey, presented Ben Vannatta his 50-year membership pin just before participating in the conclusion of the ceremonies at Pleasant Hill on Sunday, May 24.
Ben was inducted into service with the army in August of 1952. He left for Camp Killmer, NJ, in February, 1953 for overseas service. He served in Germany for 1-1/2 years during the Korean War, before being discharged in July, 1954, from Ft. Sheridan, IL.
Ben joined the Kinkead-Martin American Legion Post #583 in January, 1965
Rippey United Methodist Church: PO Box 286, 103 West Main St. Rippey, IA 50235. Pastors: Enna Antunez and Paul Burrow. Phone: 515-436-7731
Adult Sunday school at 9 am; worship service at 10:30 am. Every Tuesday: Quilters 9 am, coffee and fellowship 10 am – everyone welcome! No choir practice during the summer.
Sunday, May 31 – Sunday school at 9 am; worship in Perry at 10:30 with potluck following. An “amazing faith-filled Pentecost service” and a celebration of Pastor Enna’s doctoral graduation.
Upcoming:
- May 30 – Helping Hands project in GJ for Habitat for Humanity at 8:30 am. Contact Nancy Hanaman for info
- Wednesday, June 3 – Ad council at 7 pm.
- Saturday, June 6 – Ice Cream Social work day 8 am.
- Sunday, June 7 – Recognition Sunday during worship; ice cream social from 4 to 7 pm.
- Sunday, June 14 – THUG’s taco supper at 6 pm.
Rippey Public Library: Librarian, Andrea Williams. Phone: 515.436.7714; Website: www.rippey.lib.ia.us; E-mail: rippeyli@windstream.net. Andrea Williams, librarian.
HOURS: Monday 1-6 pm; Tuesday 1:40-5:30 pm; Wednesday 3 to 8 pm; Thursday 12-6 pm.
June events:
- June 12 – The Blank Park Zoo visit, sponsored by the Greene County Library Association, at 1 pm.
- June 17 – “Come and go” crafting to celebrate Father’s Day during regular hours.
