Annual Mullen alumni festivities held, with 237 attending banquet

  • As a member of the class of 1948, Mildred (Prentice) Szwanek was the oldest alumni in attendance.
    As a member of the class of 1948, Mildred (Prentice) Szwanek was the oldest alumni in attendance.
  • Class of 1954 - 70 years: Back, l-r: Clyde Huddle and Don Daily. Front: Pauline (Furrow) LeMay and Leila (French) Hicks.
    Class of 1954 - 70 years: Back, l-r: Clyde Huddle and Don Daily. Front: Pauline (Furrow) LeMay and Leila (French) Hicks.
  • Class of 1964 - 60 years: Back, l-r: Jon Harding, Ron Tompkins, Willard Boyer. Front: Karen (Simonson) Freeze, Gail (Mallory) Steinacher, Sharon (Boyer) Flamme, Marilyn (McCully) Meredith, Kennetha (Boyer) Scheer.
    Class of 1964 - 60 years: Back, l-r: Jon Harding, Ron Tompkins, Willard Boyer. Front: Karen (Simonson) Freeze, Gail (Mallory) Steinacher, Sharon (Boyer) Flamme, Marilyn (McCully) Meredith, Kennetha (Boyer) Scheer.
  • Class of 1974 - 50 years: Back, l-r: Jim Licking, Greg Stull, Alan Little, Mark Edelman, Doug Boyer, Steve Boyer, Fred Marshall, Glen Andrews, Lyle Phillips, Patrick Wright. Front: Tom Roseberry, Patty (Benner) Wolfenden, Eva (Wiese) Crawford, Risa (Maire) Peters, Helen (Finney) Neumeyer, Deb (Starr) Bryner.
    Class of 1974 - 50 years: Back, l-r: Jim Licking, Greg Stull, Alan Little, Mark Edelman, Doug Boyer, Steve Boyer, Fred Marshall, Glen Andrews, Lyle Phillips, Patrick Wright. Front: Tom Roseberry, Patty (Benner) Wolfenden, Eva (Wiese) Crawford, Risa (Maire) Peters, Helen (Finney) Neumeyer, Deb (Starr) Bryner.
  • Class of 1984 - 40 years: Back, l-r: Karen (Stam) Dageforde, Loren Gorsuch, Doug Cooley, Rob Mandeville. Front: Debbie (Kramer) Reynolds, Tony Boots, Dale Huddle.
    Class of 1984 - 40 years: Back, l-r: Karen (Stam) Dageforde, Loren Gorsuch, Doug Cooley, Rob Mandeville. Front: Debbie (Kramer) Reynolds, Tony Boots, Dale Huddle.
  • Class of 1994 - 30 years: Back, l-r: Tyler Gracey, Brian Vinton, Lennie Anders, Dustin White. Front: Nicole (Brannan) Buchanan, Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig, Erin Whitmore, Paula (Macke) Rice.
    Class of 1994 - 30 years: Back, l-r: Tyler Gracey, Brian Vinton, Lennie Anders, Dustin White. Front: Nicole (Brannan) Buchanan, Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig, Erin Whitmore, Paula (Macke) Rice.
  • Class of 1999 - 25 years: L-r: Kippy (Northcutt) Missing, Nicole (Hardy) Schultz, Casey Phillips, Lori (Brost) Jensen.
    Class of 1999 - 25 years: L-r: Kippy (Northcutt) Missing, Nicole (Hardy) Schultz, Casey Phillips, Lori (Brost) Jensen.
  • Class of 2004 - 20 years: Back, l-r: Kyle Phillips, David Kraye, Anthony Deibler, Travis Young. Middle: Gerri (Osborn) Peterson, Cami (Barner) O’Brien, Jill (LaBore) Star, Scout (Cox) Hebbert. Front: Alana Sullivan, Sarah (Schwaderer) Burge, Holly (Neumeyer) Ackland, Sheena (Devine) Kolarik.
    Class of 2004 - 20 years: Back, l-r: Kyle Phillips, David Kraye, Anthony Deibler, Travis Young. Middle: Gerri (Osborn) Peterson, Cami (Barner) O’Brien, Jill (LaBore) Star, Scout (Cox) Hebbert. Front: Alana Sullivan, Sarah (Schwaderer) Burge, Holly (Neumeyer) Ackland, Sheena (Devine) Kolarik.
  • Class of 2009 - 15 years: Back, l-r: Clayton Osborn, Michael Hoffmann, Gus Reiser. Front: Ashley (Carson) Dowhower, CeCe Coons, Chantel (Sullivan) Burch, Cammie (Schwartz) Kroll, Lindsey (Wilson) Brown, Maggie (Holsan) Barney.
    Class of 2009 - 15 years: Back, l-r: Clayton Osborn, Michael Hoffmann, Gus Reiser. Front: Ashley (Carson) Dowhower, CeCe Coons, Chantel (Sullivan) Burch, Cammie (Schwartz) Kroll, Lindsey (Wilson) Brown, Maggie (Holsan) Barney.
  • Class of 2014 - 10 years: L-r: Garrett Cox, Sidney (Carr) Allard, Hunter Spurlin, Dalton Zimmerman.
    Class of 2014 - 10 years: L-r: Garrett Cox, Sidney (Carr) Allard, Hunter Spurlin, Dalton Zimmerman.
  • Class of 2019 - 5 years: L-r: Josh Cox, Brandon Peters, Lane Edis, Jade Lovitt.
    Class of 2019 - 5 years: L-r: Josh Cox, Brandon Peters, Lane Edis, Jade Lovitt.

    by Gerri (Osborn) Peterson, MHS Alumni Association Assistant Secretary
    The 2024 Mullen Alumni Association banquet was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the Lariat Auditorium with 237 attending. 
    Mullen Alumni Association president Phil Hoyt welcomed everyone. 
    A moment of silence was held for our deceased members. 
    Doug Boyer then said a prayer before the meal. 
    Volunteers, cooks and servers were thanked for all of their help in making the weekend happen. The banquet prime rib was cooked by Doug and Betty (Hardy) Deibler of the Butcher Block; Ben and Jamie Hart made the sides, salads and rolls; and the Mullen Girl Scouts served drinks.  
    Thank you to everyone who donated raffle items and purchased tickets. This year’s raffle proceeds helped pay for the new Lariat tables and also went into the alumni scholarship fund. The 2024 scholarship recipients, Ashlyn Simonson and Kyle Finney, helped draw this year’s raffle winners. The winners are listed below, with the donors of the generous prizes listed after each.
    Alice (Dooley) Phipps: $100 gift certificate to Highway 2 Depot - Mike & Jane (Dent) Edelman
    Stephanie (Wright) Guy: $50 Highway 2 Depot gift certificate - Jason & Lindsey (Wilson) Brown of Highway 2 Depot
    Rodney Andrews: steak package - Connealy Angus Meat Market
    Tom Edelman: Nebraska Sandhills cribbage board - Leanne French of Lingonberry  
    Donna (Marshall) Boyer: outdoor rocker chair - Ed Carr
    Doug Boyer: outdoor rocker chair - Ed Carr
    Leon Meredith: 2 caps - Dismal River Club 
    Brian Vinton: sack pack - Sand Hills Golf Club 
    Kyle Phillips: Mullen Bronco mug - Dale & Pam (Huddle) Ginkens of Vinton Feed Store
    Chuck Anders: $20 Highway 2 Depot gift certificate - Larry Ridenour
    Wade Marsh: Mullen Bronco mug - Dale & Pam (Huddle) Ginkens of Vinton Feed Store
    Miles Humphrey: stepping stone - Jerry and Irene (Sexton) Seidler
    Patrick Wright: Mullen Bronco coasters - Dale & Pam (Huddle) Ginkens of Vinton Feed Store
    Stephanie (Wright) Guy: 10 lbs of sausage - Dick & Jo Macke and Paula (Macke) Rice of Macke’s Grocery
    Miles Humphrey: Mullen Alumni mug - Ed Carr 
    Pat Simonson: cap and koozie - Jason & Lindsey (Wilson) Brown of Highway 2 Depot
    Irene (Sexton) Seidler: body oil and lotion - Susan (Pearson) Hoyt of 9.three.salon
    Nellie (Boyer) McCarty: veteran needlepoint - Alice (Dooley) Phipps
    Peggy (Bader) Marsh: $20 Highway 2 Depot gift certificate - Larry Ridenour
    Donna (Marshall) Boyer: Mullen Alumni mug - Ed Carr 
    Nellie (Boyer) McCarty: 1 year subscription - Gerri (Osborn) Peterson of the Hooker County Tribune
    Dale Ginkens: steak and burger seasoning - Sand Hills Golf Club
    Linda (Pearson) Boyer: sitting and album gift certificate - Megan (Olson) Andersen Photography
    Jeri (Ewoldt) Graff: Mullen Bronco mug - Mike & Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig
    Dane Peterson: steak and burger seasoning - Sand Hills Golf Club
    Fredrick Kraye: 1 year subscription - Gerri (Osborn) Peterson of the Hooker County Tribune
    Alice (Dooley) Phipps: water bottle - Sand Hills Golf Club 
    Larry Boyer: cap - Dismal River Club
    Melissa (Phillips) Shepherd: clay mask and body butter - Susan (Pearson) Hoyt of 9.three.salon
    Kendra (Shavlik) Thorberg: stepping stone - Irene (Sexton) Seidler
    Charlotte (Erny) Benner: ceramic boot - Gary &  Lola (Sexton) Swanson 
    Dale Ginkens: cap - Dismal River Club
    Susan (Pearson) Hoyt: cap - Dismal River Club
    Two families of MHS alumni were recognized.
    The first was Fred Marshall’s family. Fred was celebrating his 50th year, graduating in 1974. His wife Nyla (Hodges) graduated in 1975, their son Jason Marshall in 1997 and Jason’s son Teven Marshall in 2020 and daughter Hanna (Marshall) Olson in 2021.
    Pat Simonson, 1969, had his son Aaron, 1996, present, along with grandson Sean Simonson, 2022, and granddaughter Ashlyn Simonson, 2024.  
    The oldest alumni in attendance at the banquet was Mildred (Prentice) Szwanek, a 1948 graduate. 
    The 70 year class, 1954, had four members present - Don Daily, Leila (French) Hicks, Clyde Huddle and Pauline (Furrow) LeMay.
    Mildred, Don, Leila, Clyde and Pauline were all wearing corsages donated by Lyn’s Petals and Plants - Lyn (Bostron) Crisp. 
    The 60 year class of 1964 was introduced by Marilyn (McCully) Meredith. She introduced her husband Leon and classmates Willard Boyer and his wife Betty (Evans), Sharon (Boyer) Flamme, Karen (Simonson) and her husband Butch Freeze, Jon Harding and his wife Mary Lou (Hardy), Nellie (Boyer) and her husband Jerry McCarty, Kennetha (Boyer) and her husband Vic Scheer, Gail (Mallory) and her husband Rod Steinacher and Ron Tompkins.
    The class of 1974 was celebrating their 50th year and received 50-year pins. Eva (Wiese) Crawford entertained the crowd by reading their class prophecy written by Steve Boyer before introducing her husband Jim and classmates Glenn Andrews and his wife Colleen (Edelman), Doug and his wife Linda (Pearson) Boyer, Steve Boyer, Debra (Starr) Bryner and her husband Dwain, Mark Edelman and his wife Dori (Summers), Alan Little and his wife Bonnie (Brannan), Fred Marshall and his wife Nyla (Hodges), Helen (Finney) Neumeyer, Risa (Maire) Peters and her husband Rick, Lyle Phillips and his wife Twila, Greg Stull, Patty (Benner) Wolfenden and her husband Lawnie, Patrick Wright and his wife Marilyn, Jim Licking and Tom Roseberry and his wife Von (Edelman). 
    The 40 year class from 1984 was introduced by Karen (Stam) Dageforde. At the banquet with her was Debbie (Kramer) Reynolds and her husband Ed and Doug Cooley and his wife Kim. 
    Brian Vinton introduced the class of 1994, celebrating 30 years. He introduced his wife Amy and classmates Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig, Paula (Macke) Rice, Lennie Anders, Tyler Gracey and his wife Nikki (Ewoldt), Erin Whitmore and Nicole (Brannan) Buchanan. They also had three teachers present as their guests - Mitch Pfeiffer, Dusty Stephenson and Karen Buchfinck. 
    Gerri (Osborn) Peterson introduced her husband Dane and her 2004 classmates back for their 20th reunion - Kyle Phillips, Travis Young, David Kraye and his wife Stacy, Anthony Deibler and his wife Adrienne, Sarah (Schwaderer) Burge and her husband Nick, Cami (Barner) O’Brien and her husband Eddie, Alana Sullivan, Holly (Neumeyer) Ackland and her husband Jordan, Jill (LaBore) Star and her husband Rob, Scout (Cox) Hebbert and her husband Brady and Sheena (Devine) Kolarik and her husband Jared. 
    The class of 2014 was introduced by Dalton Zimmerman - Garrett Cox and Sidney (Carr) Allard were at the banquet with him for their 10 year reunion. 
    The newest members of the MHS Alumni Association present, the class of 2024, were introduced by Ashlyn Simonson - Chase Gracey, Owen Thorberg, Samantha Cheever, Jadyn Andersen, Corynn Corbin and Kyle Finney.
    The annual meeting of the Mullen Alumni Association was called to order by president Phil Hoyt. 
    The minutes from last year’s meeting that were in the newsletter were approved on a motion by Mark Hassett with a second by Brandon Peters.
    The treasurer’s report that was printed in the newsletter was approved by a motion by Ron Boyer and a second by Nancy (Sonnenfelt) Wright.  
    For new business, Phil mentioned the new tables at the Lariat that were partially purchased by the Mullen Alumni Association. 
    Members were reminded that Mullen Alumni Yearbook update sheets were available and to stop on their way out to pick them up, a free will breakfast would be held the next morning at the Lariat from 7-10 a.m. and a street dance would begin after the banquet west of the Highway 2 Depot. 
    Dale Ginkens made the motion to adjourn the meeting of the Mullen Alumni Association and Fredrick Kraye seconded it.