The 50-year reunion of the class of 1953 from Hills High School was celebrated Saturday, July 19, along with classes 1952 and 1954. A delicious assortment of appetizers preceding the banquet which was in the home of Bonnie (Moser) and David Stavig in Sioux Falls, S.D.Bev (Ruud) Simpson, of Sioux Falls, mistress of ceremonies and key person in charge, opened the dinner with prayer. Nine ’53 graduates, four ’54 graduates, eight ’52 graduates, along with most of their mates, and one each ‘58 and ’50 graduates were in attendance. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson and Jean Hanson, former teachers, were present and honored. Visitors last Wednesday of Martha Lindrud were Karen and Kristin Vestlie of Texas along with Richard, Kaylyn and Ruben Vestlie, Sioux Falls. Dick and Audrey Heidenson returned home Thursday after a one and one-half week vacation. They traveled to Arlington Heights, Ill., to visit friends at their former home and attend services at their former church. After being home three days they went to Battle Lake to visit their son, Steve and Deb, at their resort. Also joining them were the Rev. Ray and Deb Heidenson, Brandon, S.D., and their daughter, Jan and Mark Austad, Apple Valley. The grandchildren are spending this week at the resort. Gregg and Cyndi Ebert returned home Thursday from a trip to the East and South. They drove to Columbia, S.C., to visit their son, Todd and wife Ellie. Then went to Chapel Hill, N.C., to attend a niece’s wedding and lastly to Washington, D.C., where they picked up their son Matt and his belongings and brought him to Hills. Matt will be attending law school at the University of Minnesota this fall. Shirley (Paulsen) Longnecker, Mt. Dora, Fla., came to visit her mother, Laura Paulsen, Wednesday, July 16, and returned home July 22.Michelle and Nikki Nester came from Winona Thursday to spend until Monday in the home of Joanne Goehle. Leanne, Elliot and Allison Carmany were Thursday visitors. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe attended the outdoor wedding at Tuthill Park in Sioux Falls on Saturday morning for their daughter Amber VanWyhe and Travis Arends. The reception immediately followed at C.J. Callaways in Sioux Falls. Jane Schubert, Clair and Isaac, Tanzania, Africa, arrived Wednesday to spend some time in the home of her parents, Vic and Fran Sandager, and other relatives. Thursday, Mark and Karen Sandager, Ian and Tom, and Eva Cragoe, Beaver Creek, were evening guests in the Sandager home helping Jane celebrate her birthday. Joanne Goehle, Michele, Nikki and Pat Nester; Leanne, Allison, Andrew and Elliot Carmany, Tyler; Brenda, Katie and Colby Hadler, Winona, along with other family members from Luverne and California were evening dinner guests at Vivian Holst’s in Luverne.On July 18 Mel and Jo Paulsen, Laura Paulsen and Shirley Longnecker met Donna Randall, Long Prairie, for a noon luncheon in Worthington. Saturday Don and Edyth Briggs motored to New Ulm to attend the Heritage Festival. Several of Amber VanWyhe’s college friends of Kearney, Neb., were overnight guests Friday evening in the home of Cliff and Vi VanWyhe.Bonnie Olson, St. Paul, spent from Thursday to Saturday in the home of her mother, Luella Schlueter. Friday evening Chuck and Rheta DeBoer met her sister and husband and two cousins in Rock Rapids to enjoy a meal at the Pizza Ranch.Don and Edyth Briggs attended the 100th birthday party for Marie Hensch at Tuff Village on Sunday. Grandsons, Pat Nester, Winona, and Andrew Carmany, Tyler, were at Joanne Goehle’s home from Monday until Thursday. Capt. Charles Erickson is in Afghanistan in the Civil Affairs Division. He is the son of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson. This is the address for: Charles Erickson, Log Cell South, PRT: Gardez, APO AE 09354.Donna (Paulsen) Randall, Long Prairie, met Laura Paulsen, Hills, Glen, Marla, Grant and Morgan Paulsen, Sioux Falls, Mel and Jo Paulsen, Steen, and Shirley Longnecker, Mt. Dora, Fla., at the Pizza Ranch in Luverne for dinner on July 17. Mary Herr, Chicago, Ill., returned to her home Tuesday after spending a few days with her mother, Opal Swanson, and other relatives. Saturday, Joanne Goehle, Michele, Pat and Nikki Nester; Leanne, Carmany, Elliot, Allison and Andrew; Brenda and Colby Hadler attended the Goehle family reunion at the lake home of Charles and Carol Goehle in Lake Benton.Clair Schubert is attending Bible School with his cousin, Molly Sandager, this week in West Des Moines, Iowa.Ten Luther Leaguers from Bethlehem Lutheran congregation attended the Luther League Convention in Atlanta, Ga. The group with their advisers, Deb and Larry Haak, left Wednesday and returned Sunday night. Those going were Ashley and Stacey Bush, Brianna Boeve, Derek Haak, Jessica and Jason Martens, Katie McGaffee, Jody Rentschler, Ashley Sundem and Jessica Wassenaar.
