by Gerri (Osborn) Peterson, MHS Alumni Association Assistant Secretary
The 2025 Mullen Alumni Association banquet was held on Saturday, June 15, 2025, at the Lariat Auditorium with 218 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. Josh Barnes of Mullen Auto & Diesel was also thanked for the cooling fans that were running in the Lariat.
Thank you to everyone who donated raffle items and purchased tickets. This year’s raffle proceeds went into the alumni scholarship fund. Two 2025 graduates helped draw this year’s raffle winners - Allie Boyer who won one of the alumni scholarships, and Maggie Haesler. The raffle winners are listed below, with the donors of the generous prizes listed after each.
Mark Ewoldt and Donna (Marshall) Boyer: Rocking camp chairs with awning - Ed Carr and Mullen Alumni Association
Don Pearman: Nebraska Mullen Bronco cribbage board - Mike & Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig
Ruben Griess and JD Furrow: Mullen Bronco cap and Dismal River Club cup - 4J Designs-Custom Apparel (Janelle (Most) Jennings) and Dismal River Club
JD Furrow: Sand Hills Golf Club cap and two containers of seasonings - Sand Hills Golf Club; Red’s cap and coffee cup and $20 Highway 2 Depot gift certificate - Red’s Cafe (Bill & Helen (Finney) Neumeyer) and Bob & Peggy (Bader) Marsh; birdhouse and Highway 2 Depot $25 gift certificate and koozie - Irene (Sexton) Seidler and Highway 2 Depot (Jason & Lindsey (Wilson) Brown)
Mark Edelman: Goat milk soap and lotion and beef tallow balm basket - RafterJaff Dairy Goat Soap & Lotion (Chris & Laura O’Brien)
Leonard Phillips: Sabbiatos pasta gift box - Sabbiatos (Don & Deb Cox)
Bob & Peggy (Bader) Marsh: Highway 2 Depot $25 gift certificate and koozie - Highway 2 Depot (Jason & Lindsey (Wilson) Brown); 1 year Hooker County Tribune gift subscription and Mullen Bronco mug - Hooker County Tribune (Gerri (Osborn) Peterson) and Mike & Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig; $100 Coppermill Steakhouse gift certificate - Connealy Angus
Brian Wright: $50 Kwik Stop gift card - Kwik Stop
Maria (Younkin) Kruse and Butch Marsh: 5 lbs of Macke’s Grocery sausage - Macke’s Grocery (Dick & Jo Macke and Paula (Macke) Rice)
Eva (Wiese) Crawford: Nebraska wall hanging sign - Ryan Ridenour
Guy Wiese: 1 year Hooker County Tribune gift subscription and Mullen Bronco mug - Hooker County Tribune (Gerri (Osborn) Peterson) and Mike & Arla (Ridenour) Kvanvig
Stephanie (Wright) Guy: 1-2 hour sitting and $75 print credit from Megan Andersen Photography (Megan (Olson) Andersen)
Ann Bradley-Wilmes: Sandhills Horizon Massage & Botanicals tea blends and Ranch Hands salve - Sandhills Horizon Massage & Botanicals (Rebecca Garrett)
Bill Sherman: pancake and waffle mix from Vinton Feed (Dale & Pam (Huddle) Ginkens)
Nancy (Sonnenfelt) Wright: 60 minute table massage - Rooted Touch Massage (Laura O’Brien)
Butch Marsh: 4 days boarding and one groom at KoKo’s Palace for Pampered Pets - KoKo’s (Cindy (Wright) Pearman)
Two families of MHS alumni were recognized.
The first was Willard and Betty (Evans) Boyer’s family. Betty graduated in 1963, Willard in 1964. Their son Dean Boyer graduated in 1985 and their daughter Starla (Boyer) Spurlin graduated in 1987.
Melissa (Phillips) Shepherd then recognized her family. Lynn Phillips was in the class of 1951 and passed away in 2016. Leonard Phillips, class of 1975, was celebrating his 50 year reunion this year. Melissa (Phillips) Shepherd, class of 2000, was celebrating her 25 year reunion. Denise (Phillips) Cline, class of 2003, graduated 22 years ago. Michael Phillips, class of 2005, was celebrating his 20th reunion this year.
The oldest alumni in attendance at the banquet was Mildred (Prentice) Szwanek, a 1948 graduate.
Irene (Sexton) Seidler, class of 1950, was recognized for celebrating her 75th year.
No one was present from the 70 year class.
Mildred and Irene were wearing corsages donated by Lyn’s Petals and Plants - Lyn (Bostron) Crisp.
The 60 year class of 1965 was represented by Josephine (Wiese) Robinson.
The class of 1975 was celebrating their 50th year and received 50-year pins. They were introduced by Mark Ewoldt, who introduced his wife Amy and classmates Debra Benner-Bodeman and her husband Rick, Gerald Devine, Betty (Hardy) Deibler and her husband Doug, Kirk Jacobs and his wife Jodi, Carol (Kraye) Wright and her husband John G, Terry (McConnell) Fisher and her husband Dean, Leonard Phillips and his wife Alisa, Carol (Sexton) Alishouse and her husband Kevin, Bill Sherman, Vicki (Simonson) Knoll and her husband Bill, Donalee (Sullivan) Barner and her husband Bill, Ted Swendener and his wife Bonnie, Mike Szwanek and his wife Jennifer and Ron and his wife Donna (Marshall) Boyer. The class had also invited guests to the banquet - coach and math teacher Rueben Griess and home ec teacher Sue Pearman and her husband Don Pearman (class of 1970).
The 40 year class from 1985 was introduced by Ann Bradley-Wilmes. She introduced her classmates Dean Boyer and his wife Christi, Shannan (Boyer) Franklin and Dave Hoffman, Jamie Cox, Lloyd Harding and his wife Dani, Lori (Maire) Yoshida and her husband Dave, Shari (Marsh) Alvarez, Reneé (Most) Folchert and her husband Lonnie and Bryan Sweet and his wife Bobbie (Stichka).
Mike Kvanvig introduced his 1995 classmates back to celebrate 30 years: Dori (Evans) Smidt and her husband Matt, Nikki (Ewoldt) and her husband Tyler Gracey, Jade Gracey and Jana Cox, Travis Hampton and his wife Jessica and Janelle (Most) Jennings and her husband Royce.
The 20 year class of 2005 was introduced by Kelli (Brost) Walz. Present at the banquet with her were Stacy (Brown) Paitz and her husband Adam, Nicole Hoffmann and Michael Phillips.
Haley (Gracey) introduced those present from her class of 2015 for their 10 year, along with her husband Matt Furrow: Mallory (Baum) Hall, Michael and Shayna (Kramer) Stichka, Brandon Johnson and Britt McIntosh and his wife Brooke.
There were only two of the newest members of the MHS Alumni Association present, the class of 2025. Maggie Haesler introduced herself and Allie Boyer.
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 Ann Bradley-Wilmes with a second by Fredrick Kraye.
The treasurer’s report that was printed in the newsletter was also approved by a motion by Ann Bradley-Wilmes with a second by Fredrick Kraye.
Phil Hoyt has filled his four-year term on the Mullen Alumni Association board, so nominations were requested for a new vice president. Mark Hassett nominated David Kraye and it was moved that nominations cease. David Kraye was voted in unanimously.
Phil Hoyt was thanked for his years of service to 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.
Donna Devine made the motion to adjourn the meeting of the Mullen Alumni Association and Fredrick Kraye seconded it.