by Gerri (Osborn) Peterson, MHS Alumni Association Assistant Secretary
The 2023 Mullen Alumni Association banquet was held on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Lariat Auditorium with 225 attending.
Mullen Alumni Association President Mark Hassett welcomed everyone.
A moment of silence was held for our deceased members.
Karen (Harding) Juzenas 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 Dan Vest of Highway 2 BBQ; Ben and Jaime Hart made the sides, salads and rolls; and Sooky Marks was once again there with Mullen Girl Scouts serving drinks. It just happened to be Sooky’s birthday - along with present alumni Kathie (Wright) Hassett and Matthew Furrow. Happy Birthday was sung.
The Alumni Association Board would like a volunteer from each class to help us update their classmates’ addresses before next year’s mailing of the newsletter. Please let Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig or Gerri (Osborn) Peterson know who will do that for us.
Thank you to everyone who donated raffle items and purchased tickets. This year’s raffle proceeds went towards purchasing new curtains for the Lariat stage. The 2023 scholarship recipients were Tel Kvanvig and Whitney Jennings. Tel was present to help draw this year’s raffle winners:
Carol (Humphrey) Pearson: Sand Hills cap donated by Sand Hills Golf Club
Fredrick Kraye: Mullen Bronco cribbage board made and donated by Lingonberry - Leanne French
Gerri (Osborn) Peterson: Mullen Bronco blanket donated by The Corner Boutique - Mindy Paxton & Janelle (Most) Jennings
Ed Carr: Drinking cup donated by Jerry & Irene (Sexton) Seidler
Stephanie (Wright) Guy: $25 gift card to 9.three.salon donated by 9.three.salon - Susan (Pearson) Hoyt
Clyde Huddle: Pancake mix donated by Vinton Feed Store - Dale & Pam (Huddle) Ginkens
Marg (Macke) Little: Garden pad and garden snips donated by anonymous
Mike Szwanek: Cap donated by Sandhills Physical Therapy - Nikki (Ewoldt) Gracey
Wade Marsh: Sand Hills water bottle donated by Sand Hills Golf Club
Leonard Phillips: Sand Hills golf towel donated by Sand Hills Golf Club
Shauna (Buchfinck) Donohoe: 2 six-packs of water donated by Sandhills Natural Water - Roger & Sue Licking
Traci (Ewoldt) McCully: Pancake mix donated by Vinton Feed Store - Dale & Pam (Huddle) Ginkens
Fredrick Kraye: Rubbermaid take along & kitchen towel set donated by anonymous
Barb (Phipps) McCully: Antique butter dish donated by Clyde Huddle
Jodi Daily: 1 year subscription donated by Hooker County Tribune - Gerri (Osborn) Peterson
Dale Ginkens: Cap donated by Sandhills Physical Therapy - Nikki (Ewoldt) Gracey
Dale Huddle: Cap donated by Sandhills Physical Therapy - Nikki (Ewoldt) Gracey
Julie (Pearson) Pfeiffer: Mullen Bronco shirt donated by Mike & Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig
Christina (Wright) Stieb: Snack and storage box donated by anonymous
Wade Edis: Small drinking cup donated by Jerry & Irene (Sexton) Seidler
Mark Hassett: North Platte-opoly donated by LW Wolfenden Trucking - Patty (Benner) Wolfenden
Mary Ann (Sullivan) Carlock: 1 night stay donated by Wrights City Trailer Court - Mark Hassett
Three families of MHS alumni were recognized.
The first was Alice (Dooley) Phipps’ family. Her mother, Marie Boyer graduated in 1931. Alice graduated in 1953. Alice’s children then graduated in: 1973 - Deb (and her husband Ed Arends in 1971), 1976 - Bev Sestak, 1977 - Bill Phipps. Alice’s brother Ron and his wife Leann (Long) Dooley graduated in 1972.
Chuck Anders, celebrating his 60th year reunion with the class of 1963, had his daughters Jennifer (Anders) Peters - 1988 and Julie (Anders) Micheel - 1990 present, along with grandson Brandon Peters - 2019. His other MHS graduates are children Lennie Anders - 1994, Arianna (Green) Purcell - 1999 and Andy Anders - 2000 and granddaughter Erica Peters - 2017.
Pat Simonson - 1969 - had his sons Aaron - 1996 and Mike - 1998 present, along with grandson Sean - 2022.
The oldest alumni in attendance at the banquet were Fedora (Humphrey) Groenewold 1938 and Frank Harding 1939. They are both 101 years old.
Alice (Dooley) Phipps was present for the 70 year class of 1953.
Fedora, Frank and Alice were all wearing corsages donated by Lyn’s Petals and Plants - Lyn (Bostron) Crisp.
The 60 year class of 1963 was introduced by MC Barbara (Allen) Christy. She introduced her husband Tom and her classmates Chuck Anders with Karen Happ, Arnold Grafford and his wife Helen, Betty (Evans) Boyer and husband Willard, Paul Coble, Leon Meredith and his wife Marilyn (McCully), Carol (Humphrey) Pearson and her husband Larry and Mary Jane (Cotant) Younkin.
Scott Deibler introduced his wife Linda and his classmates present for their 50 year reunion - Pauline (Licking) Brown and her husband Royce, Leann (Maire) Goble and her husband Gary, Rick McKillip and his wife Sandy, Diana (Wright) Rehn and her husband Del, Deb (Phipps) Arends and her husband Ed, Mary Ann (Sullivan) Carlock, Barbara (Prentice) Gillett, Jim Hardy, Bonnie (Brannan) Little and her husband Alan, Marg (Macke) Little and her husband Gary, Bonnie (Gier) Strasburger, John S. Wright, Charles and Eula (Edelman) Younkin and Stuart Prentice. 50-year pins were presented to this class.
Donnie Cox introduced his wife Deb and his classmates from 1983 here for their 40th reunion - Patty (Leach) Converse and her husband Daryl, Michele (Most) Needs and her husband Mike, Ed Carr and Tim Hoatson.
The 30 year class of 1993 was introduced by Mike French - his wife Leanne and classmate Mary Jo (O’Brien) Walker.
Denise (Phillips) Cline was the only one present for the 20 year class of 2003.
The class of 2013 was back celebrating their 10 year reunion and was introduced by Matthew Furrow. He introduced his wife Haley (Gracey) and classmates Mikayla (Daniels) Higgins and her husband Gavin, Rachel (Hoesing) Kloke and her husband Eric, Clara (Vinton) Schmid and her husband JW, Aubrea (Kruse) Janssen and her husband Jade, Logan Ginkens, Amber Wright and Waylon Carpenter.
Alex Moore introduced himself and classmate Tel Kvanvig from the class of 2023.
The annual meeting of the Mullen Alumni Association was called to order by President Mark Hassett.
The minutes from last year’s meeting that were in the newsletter were approved on a motion by Dick Macke with a second by Jim O’Brien.
The treasurer’s report that was printed in the newsletter was approved by a motion by Kathie (Wright) Hassett and a second by Peggy (Bader) Marsh.
Nominations were taken for a Vice President for the Mullen Alumni Association board. Nominated were John Kraye and Wade Edis. A vote of hands was taken, with Wade being elected as Vice President.
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 pancake breakfast would be held the next morning at the Lariat from 7-10 a.m. and a street dance would begin at 8 p.m. west of the Chuckwagon.
JD Furrow made the motion to adjourn the meeting of the Mullen Alumni Association and Wade Edis seconded it.