Spring 2010
Class Representative - Loretta Ransom Hucks
Happy Spring to everyone! I'm writing this in February, and one would think spring has been here
since January. Unbelievable! The South and the East are being hit with record snowfalls, and we have
flowers blooming. We're off to Mexico for four weeks and I'm almost reluctant to leave. Everywhere I
go I'm always running into former Lynx - and quite often from our class of '53. Last year I wrote about
Keith Baker who should have graduated with us, but was moved to Edmonds in our senior year. I met
him at the YMCA in Bothell. Well, I've run into another fellow, who works at the Y in Bothell, who should
have graduated with us. His name is Budd Seslar. Budd attended many schools including BF Day,
Interlake and Hamilton. He entered Lincoln in 1949. In the summer of '52, he and Bill Lanfear and
Ray Force (deceased) worked in a cannery in Walla Walla - 12 hours a night! In our senior year he
was working full-time at Boeing as a riveter. The Seattle School District said that he had to quit work
or go to Broadway (Edison). So, he kept his job, left Lincoln, and graduated from Edison. At Lincoln he
studied art and practiced photography as a hobby. After serving in the Air Force and studying more photography
he opened a studio in Seattle - Budd Seslar Photography, which operated from 1960 to 2000. If any of you remember
Budd and would like to communicate with him, you can send a note to:
Buddy2arts@msn.com.
Winter 2009
Class Representative - Loretta Ransom Hucks
NEWS AND MEMORIES - Happy Winter - Class of
1953. As I'm writing this it's actually still fall - and Halloween is coming up in two days. However, there's snow
in the mountains already and it feels like winter - we've
got the fireplace going and are dozing nearby. We're off
to Lake Chelan tomorrow - and hear there's snow on the
butte there. However, we don't care - a week without
the telephone ringing all the time, lots of reading, walking, eating and sleeping - who could ask for anything more?
Fall 2009
Class Representative - Loretta Ransom Hucks
Here we are again - getting ready to publish another issue of Totem II. It's actually June right now - and it feels like we've
already had our summer. Some very unusually hot days and LOTS of sunshine (this is Seattle?) for the 1st couple of weeks. Now
we're back to normal - clouds, rain, and cool weather. Actually feels good to most of us web-footed natives. Can't have too
much of that sunshine and heat - we don't know how to act. We keep telling the out-of-staters we meet that "Yes, it rains here
all the time. You wouldn't like it, don't bother to move here."
Spring 2009
Class Representative - Loretta Ransom Hucks
Winter 2008
Class Representative - Loretta Ransom Hucks
Hi Classmates from 1953. Not many of you have sent any news of your comings and goings this time, but Bill Koons and I have heard from a few. Fall 2008
Class Representative - Loretta Ransom Hucks
In the last issue of the Totem II, Martha Gebert
Houk talked about "small worlds." That got me to
thinking (my husband, Randy, would respond with
"Oh, oh, we're in trouble now."). We moved to our
condo on the Inglewood Golf course in Kenmore in
1988. The man we bought from, Phil Basher, graduated from Lincoln in 1940. He'd even lived around
the corner from my family, in Don Helland's block on
Dayton Avenue, 78th-79th, and delivered papers to our
house. People down the hall, Betty & Bob Murray,
and his sister Dorothy, now all deceased, graduated
from Lincoln and lived near the Arabian Theater in
my old neighborhood. Jim & Judy Otto also lived
here for a time. Phil told me that at one time there
were 12 Lincoln grads here. At last year's all-school
luncheon at the Lake City Elks, I discovered that the
lady upstairs in our building, Helen Coleen Folven
was a 1933 graduate. Spring 2008
Our own Lynx Carolyn Ward Edwards lost her
husband in December and is having to stop writing
your 1953 news article. Thank you, Carolyn, for all
your dedicated time and energy for all these years.
You will be missed by your Editor and I am sure
greatly missed by all of your 1953 classmates! Winter 2007-08 Hello Class of 53: Based on my most recent information, plans for the Lincoln High 100th Birthday
Celebration are progressing nicely. We all appreciate the efforts of Bill Koons, Darrell Bangerter, Gail
Herzog, and Sharon Reams and others for their efforts in providing the Class of 1953 memory board
for display at the open house September 8. Guests
were welcomed, refreshments served, the Abraham
Lincoln statue rededicated and memory boards from
the various classes were on display. The celebration
continues until August 2008. Fall 2007 Hi Classmates: The first full day of summer in the Arkansas Ozarks has come and gone with high temps of 90 degrees. We notice in Seattle the high temps are about 70 degrees. You people in the Northwest appreciate and enjoy! I heard from several people, some from other classes, that the All Class Luncheon was an outstanding event. Over 487 in attendance! Our class was responsible for the event this year. Many thanks and congratulations to Bill Koons and his committee for an excellent job! Don Olson was a fantastic Master of Ceremonies! Darrell Bangerter took lots of photos and will report on this when his 'dead' PC is resurrected.
BITS AND PIECES - Marilyn Long Ahnemiller is looking for Darlene Sigurdson. Does anyone know
of her whereabouts? Her married name? Her phone number? If so, please let Marilyn know. Her number is
(425) 672-9824. Thank you.
Diana Ritter Downey writes that she just lost her husband of 53 years - Bob - this past Thanksgiving,
so the holidays were looking kind of bleak. "Then we had the opportunity to get up to Seattle for Christmas
with my brother George's ('49) kids and grandkids. Along with my daughter Linda and my two grandkids we spent
a really wonderful 8 days with my niece Michele (she was on the cruise with me at the 55th) and her family.
My nephew Mark took us all around our old haunts and neighborhood. I forgot how many steps there were at the
Pike Place Market! But - I made it up! Seattle drew us all in and now my grandkids want to move there. Hope
you all have a wonderful 2010! Also, I hope to see everybody at the next reunion. Best Regards, Diana".
Mary Fowler Trimble has another book out - Tenderfoot. She wrote the following about the cover:
"My husband Bruce and I were in Eastern Oregon and stopped to watch some cowboys round up and sort cattle.
One of the cowboys rode over to us and asked if we needed help. Picture wide open terrain, nothing but
pastures and cattle in sight. 'No Bruce explained, 'we just wanted to watch and take pictures.' The cowboy
said, 'Go for it,' and Bruce clicked away and we thoroughly enjoyed the next hour or so watching them.
When it was time to think about giving the publisher, Treble Heart Books, some cover ideas for "Tenderfoot"
, Bruce whipped out a picture he'd taken and asked me what I thought about it. I thought it was good, but,
as he knew, my main character is a woman. 'Oh,' he said, 'I can fix that.' Through PhotoShop he slimmed him/her
down and gave her a pony tail. I submitted it and that's Tenderfoot's cover. The mountain is actually Mt.
St. Helens before the eruption." Peggy Keller Click-Taylor - Those of you with e-mail received a message
from Darrell concerning Peggy's condition. Peggy has been battling ovarian cancer and her status is not good.
Hospice has been coming in, and she's receiving pain medication. A website has been set up for her on a site
www.CaringBridge.org. You can read her journal there and post entries to her Guest Book. Please go there
and send her a greeting.
She does read her e-mail when she's able. It sounds like she has a really supportive group of family
and friends surrounding her. I hope that she knows we all send our love to her. Jack McGinnis sent a
picture of the John B. Allen graduating class of 1947. Among the many signatures on the back I was
able to recognize the following as our 1953 classmates: Dick Evans, Jack McGinnis, Claude Heckman,
Chuck Rodolf, Bob Polasik, Nancy Hedlund, Evelyn Hamilton, Jack Murphy, Joyce Polasik, Janet Underhill,
Glen Johnson, Shirley Wheeler. (See picture
here.)
Bill Furbush sent pictures of Bob the Cat - a bobcat who resides near Bill's ranch in Texas. Bill's heard coyotes at night, and saw two of them, plus thousands of rabbits in the summer and fall, until the coyotes apparently ate many of them. He's never seen the bobcats or deer. These pictures were taken behind a neighbor's house - on the opposite side of the ranch - about a mile away.
Lois Anseth Simmons wrote about Twyla Cogzil Ball (see obits): "She was a good friend of mine in high school. We had lost touch with each other, unfortunately. Twyla and I had good times together in high school, especially swimming in Haller Lake. I was saddened to hear of her death. I live in Fargo, ND, where it is very cold. We usually go south for part of the winter. However, this year we can't decide where to go as it seems to be cold everywhere. I see by the weather reports that Seattle is often warmer than Mesa, AZ. We usually make our trips to Seattle in the summer, but maybe we should consider a winter vacation there this year.
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS: Many thanks to the following people for their generosity: Arline Shulmier Daniel - in memory of Ray Shulmier '50, Diana Ritter Downey - in memory of Shirley Tarbox Taylor and Sharon Squibb Brown, James Tollefson, Bill and Elaine Hoppe, Bill Furbush.
OBITS: Twyla Cogzill Ball - June 5, 2009, Larry Lyndaal - December 22, 2009, Forrest (Bill) Worthington - November 16, 2009.
DUES: Many thanks to Loyal Lynx sending in their dues. Margaret (Joan) Evans Krueger, James L Tollefson, JoAnne Bolan Clampitt, Ron & Barbara Plenge Hill, William & Elaine Hawn '56 Hoppe.
Adios, my friends - until fall, 2010. Wrack your brains for what's left of your memory and come up with a tale or two that I can put in the next issue. Something going on now, or something that went on during our halcyon days at Lincoln (that's fit to print, that is). News of a friend from Lincoln.
Whatever! Send to:lor.randy@verizon.net Bye-bye. Loretta
Bill Koons sent a message that his wife, Anne, fell and broke her hip. She'll be in rehab for about 8 weeks, learning to walk again. If you want to send her a card - she's at Christa Rehab, in Shoreline. WA
He told me, also, that Chet Smith is on a trip to Dubai to play golf with his son, and will see Bill's daughter, who is living there.
Gordon Petter had a bout with Mersa - the flesh-eating disease, but is doing better now.
Tina Murphy is back from a great trip to Hawaii.
Sad last minute news: We have lost our Margaret (Peggy) Keller Click-Taylor. She passed away March 1, 2010.
Didn't hear from as many of you this time as last!
But to quote Spencer Tracy from Woman of the Year with Katherine Hepburn, as he’s looking at her: “There ain't much there, but what there is, is cherse!"
Gail Thomas Herzog: I went to a Tarbox Family Reunion in Connecticut with my son, Tom. We had a great time with all my crazy cousins! All of us took a trip into
NYC and visited the former site of my Grampa Tarbox's carpet mill at 29 East 30th St. It's now a fine restaurant - The Crooked Knife - where 11 of us had lunch, then
walked around NYC. My friends, The Persuasions, from
Brooklyn, came to Connecticut and gave us a very fine A Cappella concert on the front lawn. We cruised around Long Island Sound on my cousin's boat and enjoyed very good
weather. I must admit, travel is NOT for the faint hearted!
At least we've gone beyond covered wagons!
Mary Fowler Trimble: In September I attended a
writers' conference in Los Angeles at the UCLA campus.
It was sponsored by Women Writing in the West - a writers' group I've belonged to for many years. Our conferences are annual gatherings that take place in different
parts of the country. I always come away inspired by
the panel discussions and workshops. One of the highlights of our conferences are opportunities to meet one-on-one with agents, publishers, market specialists - and
this year a books-to-screen specialist. I was in charge
of this particular event this year, so I had a lot to do to
keep things flowing smoothly But, like the old maxim
says, "The more you put into something, the more you
get out of it."
My own appointments with several of these experts
helped refine my strategies for when my next novel Tenderfoot is released within the next few months. I'd love to have you visit my website
http://www.MaryTrimbleBooks.com
in which my blog is also embedded. If you have a minute, leave a note - I'd love to hear from you. (Mary has two other novels - Rosemount and McClellan's Bluff).
(What an interesting life - a published novelist!)
Bill Furbush: This may be a first. I taught ballroom
dancing for Arthur Murray in Atlanta in 1957 and 1958
and Los Angeles in 1959 and 1960 while working my
way through art school and college. Then I only danced
a handful of times until a year after my wife passed
away in 2004. In 2005, I returned to dancing. In 2007
I moved to Heritage Ranch, an active adult community
in Fairview, Texas. I began teaching classes at Heritage
Ranch and putting on dances for the residents at Allen
Senior Center and McKinney Senior Center. I love dancing and I love teaching. You may know that the common
knowledge is that Baptists do not dance. However, I approached my pastor at Friendship Baptist Church and offered to teach free classes to our teenagers. He and
the deacons thought it was a great idea. In June, I began teaching a weekly class in Foxtrot to a mixed class
of pre-teens to adults. I had forty-four students show up.
In July I taught East Coast Swing. In this day and age of
social disconnect between children and adults, I thought
this was great. And in a Baptist Church! I'll bet God was
looking down, smiling, and saying,"lt's about time you
Baptists got the word. Dancing is fun!" (Bill - I wished'
you lived closer than Texas. We love to dance, too).
Denny Clark: I've been meaning to share this experience with my schoolmates for a number of years, and
am finally sitting down to do it.
It was in the middle 80s when Jack Murphy and I
went to a Sonics game. On our way home there was
a traffic jam in the Queen Anne area, so we decided to
go over Queen Anne hill and get onto Aurora Avenue by
the bridge - near Canlis. We crossed the bridge, and
were wondering what our old school looked like after 30
years. We knew it had been closed, and wondered if
it was still standing. We soon found ourselves driving
along Interlake, and Lincoln was only a block away. Suddenly there it was! Our eyes filled with wonderment at
the scene before us. Fire trucks, hoses, ladders and
flood lights were concentrated on a school bus that had
been driven up the stairs and into the doors of the main
entrance. The entire facade was black with smoke and
it smelled like diesel oil. We parked the car and walked
up to the scene, hardly believing our eyes. Whatever had
taken place, it was near the end, as the firemen were
busy putting their gear away. I asked one of the firemen
what had been happening. He told us that they finished
filming a scene for a movie. Jack was worried about
who was going to clean up the mess, while I was curious
about the title of the film.
With a few pointed questions, we learned that the
film studio was responsible for restoring the damage
to the stairs we all stood on for our class pictures, and
would repair any damage to doors, bricks and the school
bus. I found someone who looked like he was in charge
- he was the assistant director. He told me the title of the
movie was Class of 1999 and was about students who
revolted. I was in the video business at the time and I vowed to buy that movie when it was released to video.
I did, and am here to tell you it did not do our old Alma
Mater proud. The actors all had spiked hair and wore
stud collars, and the actresses were not girls you would
introduce to mom. It was strictly a "B" movie. There
were guns and knives - and all were used. I later sold
my business and that film went with it. It was a good
renter though, and returned a sizeable profit. I checked
Amazon for it and they have several films of that name.
I don’t believe any of them are that particular one - but I
promise to do some research and find out for sure. I'll let
you know later. In the meantime, we can all take pride in
knowing that our old school was a real movie star, and
as we all know now, has held up very well for its age.
(WOW!!! What a story. Thanks, Denny)
[Webmaster note: You can get the movie on Netflix, if it interests you.]
Loretta Ransom Hucks: When my best friend, Gayle Brozovich Warrington, and I were entering freshmen in September 1949, (our elementary school, Daniel Bagley, was one of the last schools to go to 8th grade)
we had to stand in line to get a locker. Being lowly freshmen,
we were at the back of the line - outside. It was a
very warm day and after waiting for what seemed a long
while in the sun, Gayle became dizzy and almost passed out. Someone (a counselor?) took us inside to sit on the
stairs, and then gave us a locker in the "Big Time Operators' " locker room - 2nd floor outside Mr. Koenig's German class. That was so great that we thought it might
be a good idea to do that every year, in order to get a
"choice" locker. Never did, though. Went in for a stress
test (my 1st) recently! According to that I have the heart,
lungs, blood pressure, etc. of a 55-year-old! Then I took
a "virtual age" quiz on the internet. The results said I
was 50-something (I forget. They weren't testing memory, thank you). And would live to be 106. Well - they're
wrong! My ambition is to live to be at least 115, and give
it up on the dance floor - in my high heels! (My grandson
has already been warned that he will have to take me!
I'm sure the kids won't be able to drive by that time).
Sue Dipped Calvert: Sue wrote regarding the picture in the fall issue of Totem II of “The Boys" She found
it interesting that there's a smaller picture of the usual
suspects in our '53 annual - and it's titled “The Men."
A gazillion years later, another group picture, this time
titled "The Boys." Hmmmmm. She wonders, as do I, if
Fred Wrlght could offer an explanation!
Well, Fred?
Doris Clark Cannon: Doris is the secretary of the
Mountlake Terrace Historical Society. She writes that
City Hall is now closed to the public - due to possible
earthquakes - and will be rebuilt.
The historical society has been storing many vintage items there - but has to remove them. By the time
you read this - they will all have been removed —but
there are many Washington State legal records from
1889 to 1969. If you're interested, contact Doris at
nonnac1952@aol.com.
Scholarship Donations - thank you very much. Judy
Keller - In memory of Joanne Scudder Caley and Marilyn Anderson Crockett, Joanne Zavales Boss - In
memory of Milton Zavales '52.
A new address for Carolyn Ward Edwards: P.O. Box
1928, Mt. Home, AZ 72654-1928.
Dues received from: Robin G Buchan (2009 & 2010).
Recently heard that Merrilyn Bach Hughes died on
March 7, 2007. Our condolences to her family.
Okay friends - now we need to hear from you for the
next issue. Please write about anything - what you're
doing, memories from school or whatever, what your career was/is. We'd love to hear from you. Loretta Ransom Hucks - lor.randy@verizon.net.
Keep well - have a happy holiday season, a safe and
sane 2010. So long, for now.
It was great to hear from all of you who've sent me news of your comings and goings. Would love to hear from more of you - send
on anything and/or everything about what's going on in your lives.
Sue Dippert Calvert - About 5 years ago, a woman from the class of '47 at McDonald grade school decided to track down as many
other people from that class as possible for a reunion lunch. She was incredibly successful, and the lunch was such fun that
she and another classmate decided to try occasionally on a smaller scale. Since then, a number of us, including Barbara Nelson
Cheek, LaVerne Bjorklund Talbot, Verna Eriks, JoAnn Bolan Clampitt, Sue Dippert Calvert and, before
her demise, Kay Peck Bartlett,
have met for lunch, usually at the home of one woman who loves to entertain (and who puts up 13 Christmas trees during that holiday!)
JoAnne Bolan Clampitt - I went to McDonald grade school and Hamilton Jr. High. I have 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons.
I do a lot of volunteering and love spending time with our family.
Irene Klave Helm - Latona Elementary, '40-47, Hamilton Jr. High, '48-50, Lincoln '51-53. I had a business in San Francisco for
25 years. I've been in Arizona two years this June. I'm enjoying the weather - swimming every day. Does anyone know the whereabouts
of George Anderson who went to Hamilton and Lincoln?
(Contact Loretta if you do).
Gail Thomas Herzog - I'm planning a trip to Connecticut this fall for my Tarbox family reunion. Always so much fun being with my
crazy cousins. Life is never dull.
Bill Koons - Ron Williamson called me and Al Anthony recently, and said it was time for a get-together with "the boys."
So, a few
phone calls later, and by word-of-mouth we met on May 29 at the Bay Cafe at Fisherman's Terminal for lunch. Surprisingly, on such
short notice, almost 35 old farts showed up! In the attached picture, (thank you Willie Hoppe for bringing the only camera) Kenny
Unick, Ron Rall and about 10 others had already left so aren’t in the picture. We had a GREAT time for over 3 hours! [Note:
If you use Firefox browser, this picture will not be satisfactorily rendered. Try Internet Explorer, Safari or Chrome.]
Gene Bensene called and said they were going to Lincoln City this week so his wife could gamble!
I talk to Joe Johnston about three times a week. He's still working in the law business. He just bought a Porsche which has only
20,000 miles on it and is in pristine condition. He keeps it in the garage, and hasn't driven it in about a month because it's too
much trouble to move the Airedale into his crate! (don't ask - just use your imagination). I've got a 1976 Ford F150 pick-up truck
that I bought from Jack McGinnis in 2000. It's been sitting in my driveway since then - never driven and never licensed! I finally
got around to giving it to my grandson, in exchange for his helping me around here. It has a blown manifold, and today (June 24) I
really lucked out - I found a mechanic who works after hours, on the cheap! I worked all day taking the studs out - and now it's
almost running. By-the-by - I licensed it for only $25!
Ronald L. Ross -I went to Ronald Elementary and Richmond Beach Junior High. After graduating from Lincoln I joined the United
States Marine Corps. I'm now retired from the automotive trade and have lived in Long Beach, Washington since 1967.
Susie Rindler Sherman - Out of hundreds of people at the recent Mercer Island High School graduation, which was in the Convention
Center, my daughter and I ran into Loretta Ransom Hucks. My grandson, Jason Roth, is a good friend of Loretta's grandson, Bowen Hucks.
Both boys are going to Western in the fall.
Fred Wright - I will present material on a new theory of group therapy at two conferences this coming fall - one in San Francisco
and the other in New York City. The theory emphasizes the power of non-linear thinking and the non-conscious mind in human interaction.
It's an effort to make some sense out of human behaviors that oftentimes don't seem to make sense.
The Annual All-Class Luncheon was held June 13 at the Nile Country Club and hosted by the class of 1955. It was a big success, with
classes from 1934 to 1981 attending. It was great seeing old friends. The attendees from the class of 1953 are all looking good and
keeping active: Sue Dippert Calvert, Lois Peterson Eastman, Gail Thomas Herzog, Willie Hoppe, Doug Houk,
Martha Gebert
Houk, Bill
Koons, Don Lundberg, Marnie Jamison Oslin, Ron Williamson. (Thank you, Gail Thomas Herzog).
We've had a lot of donations to the scholarship fund since the last issue. Thank you all for being so generous. Our kids and grandkids
who receive these scholarships thank you, too: Darrell Bangerter, Georgene Nelson Birchard, William Brooks, Don
Brown,
Sue Dippert
Calvert, JoAnne Bolan Clampitt, Arlene Shulmier Daniel, Pride Neaville Davies, Diane Ritter Downey,
Joe Johnston, Judy Elwell Keller,
Bill Koons, Jack McGinnis, Martin Murray, Jr., Judy Fosse Snider, Larry Vickers, Ron Williamson,
Fred Wright.
Georgene Nelson Birchard - Moved in 2000 to Arizona. We retired and didn't want to sit and look at the rain anymore. We come up to visit
a couple of times a year, though. All our kids live in that area. We'll be coming up about the end of August or 1st of September. We have
a motorcycle and travel as much as we can. Will ride it up when we come. We have one kid in Shoreline, one in Lynnwood, one in South
Everett and one in Gig Harbor. Also, one in Corpus Christi, Texas. I was married for 7 years to the kids' father, divorced, and married
to Bob Jackson from Lincoln (but he graduated from Roosevelt) for 15 years, divorced and married Ted in 1984. Hit the jackpot on
that one.
I worked at too many jobs to mention. I made window coverings for houses and boats for about 30 yrs, then came to Saddlebrook, Arizona 20 miles
north of Tucson, Arizona, a retirement community. Love it! Lots of riding, golfing, volunteering and whatever we can do to stay out of trouble.
We're both healthy, thank God.
Recent Passings:
Barbara Good Arnold - December 17, 2005. Survived by her husband of 50 years, Stanley, 2 sons and 3 grandchildren and her brother,
Richard Good.
Vern Bower - March 16, 2009 in Columbia Falls, Montana. Vern joined the army a year after graduation and was honorably discharged
July 1, 1958. He was a licensed civil engineer and professional land surveyor with his own firm. After retirement, he and his wife
Linda moved to Montana. They loved the open skies, beautiful forests, impressive mountains and Glacier Park, which was very close to
them. Vern is survived by his wife, 6 children, 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and his brother, Gene, who lives in Kenmore.
Anthony (Tony) Moore - August 1, 2008. After graduation Tony served in the U.S. Navy, then settled in California where he raised a
family and spent the rest of his life. He had 26 years in management with JC Penney's Co. then opened Ear Labs Hearing Aid Centers
in 1988. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janis, 4 children, and siblings Yvonne Moore Hawkins, '51 and Sid Moore.
Robert (Bob) W. Trebon - May 2, 2009 due to lung cancer. After
graduation, Bob enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in
Germany where he met his wife of 53 years, Kathi. He became a Seattle police office and retired in 1973. He is survived by his
wife Kathi, 4 children and 6 grandchildren, and his brothers Ron and Tom and sister
Cherie.
That's it for the fall issue. It's always fun to do this column each month - I really enjoy getting all the interesting tidbits
from everyone. Start taking notes, or jotting on your calendar when you do or see something that might be of interest. You never
know who is looking for news about YOU. Loretta
Congratulations to the grandchildren of two of our classmates. They received Lincoln Lynx Alumni Association scholarship
awards: Michael Call, the grandson of Lael Bean Call, will be attending Western Washington University and Joe Westling, the
grandson of Carol Hall Rodolf will be attending Shoreline Community College.
Well - it was a heck of a winter, wasn't it? At
least in many parts of the country - including dear
old Seattle. We of the "They don't know how to drive
in snow," city got more than our fair share of the white
stuff - making it necessary to put in Plan B for Christmas. Randy and I watched old movies and had BLT's
for dinner. Was really fun, actually. Talked to a neighbor today who said she was throwing out all of her
winter items that say, "Let It Snow." I was happy to
hear from several of you about what's going on in your
lives. Thanks for responding to my request for news
items. Love to hear from you - and remember there's
another issue coming out in the fall - so send on your
tidbits - to me, Bill Koons or Darrell on the website.
Thanks L.
ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PRINT:
Lois Anseth Simmons - We decided not to go
south this winter, as we usually pull our lovely trailer,
and decided we might be getting a little old to handle
the icy roads we often encounter. However, we now
are thinking this was not a good year to decide to stay
north. North Dakota broke records for snow amounts
in December, and now we have been breaking records for rain in February. What's going on?!? (We
all want that answered - L.) We take care of our four
six-and-seven-year-old grandkids after school. Two
are identical twin girls and I still can't tell them apart.
They enjoy keeping me guessing about who is who.
Our oldest grandson is home from Afghanistan and
we're thankful for that. I'm in two book clubs and knit
some - making caps for newborns at a local hospital.
Bill Furbush - I spent three days in Seattle in May,
to introduce my wife to Seattle and to take a cruise to
Alaska. When I was attending art school and college
in Atlanta and Los Angeles, I taught at Arthur Murray
for about three years in those two cities. For the next
forty-five years I did very little dancing. A year after
my wife of forty years died of lung cancer in 2004 I
returned to dancing. There are about fifteen Senior
Centers in the Dallas area, where they hold weekly dances with live bands. I'd forgotten how much I
enjoyed dancing and teaching. When I remarried in
June, 2006, we built a house in Fairview, Texas, at
Heritage Ranch Golf and Country Club, which is an
active adult community. I began teaching ballroom
dancing to my fellow residents. I also formed a ballroom dance club. All of the money that I collected
for the lessons I donated to the dance club. The club
used the money to hire bands and dance hosts, and
have our own dances here at the ranch. We've held
five of these dances so far. I also began teaching
classes at senior centers in nearby Allen and McKinney. We converted our dining room to a dance studio with hardwood floors, mirrors and dance posters
and pictures - and I teach private lessons here. I'm
preparing to provide free ballroom dance classes for
students at a nearby middle school, and for teenagers
and adults at my church. My wife and I have a pair of
matching kayaks and bicycles. We kayak at nearby
Lake Lavon and other lakes around north Texas, and
in the hill country of Texas. We bicycle and walk on
the paths here at Heritage Ranch. And, of course, we
also dance a great deal.
Pat Hibbard Hicks - We have six grandchildren
who live in Seattle, Olympia and Vancouver, Washington. We enjoy camping in Washington, Oregon
and mostly British Columbia with our nice truck and
camper. The campgrounds we enjoy the most are at
Mt. Baker - an hour away from our home in Bellingham. I'm also busy volunteering with the Assistance
League in Bellingham.
Barbara Kimbrough Calderon - We spent 10
years in Las Vegas, but not being gamblers, it was
quite boring - other than being able to play tennis almost every day. We moved to Boise, Idaho, where
Barb & Ron Hill and Elaine & Dick Jones live. We like
it, except for the cold winters.
We have two granddaughters in Seattle - Alyssa
and Miley. We adore them and spend as much time
as possible in Seattle to be with them. Sol's health is
good and he plays a lot of golf, weather permitting. I
figured out Bridge, sort of. After three back operations I'm still in pain, so early in March they're going
to try a last resort - placing a stimulator or a morphine
pump in my back. I'm not happy about this, but it
would be nice to be out of pain.
Phyllis Radka King - I attended Seattle Pacific
School of nursing and was a surgical technician at
Swedish Hospital. I quit to marry Ivan King '52 and
have four children and take in teen-aged foster kids
who were on juvenile parole. Just couldn't wait to start
using those Hope Chest items we girls all accumulated. I then attended the UW, got my teaching certificate, and taught grades 1-4 for 33 years, until I retired
at 65. I was divorced shortly after graduating from
the U. and have not remarried. I retired about the
time my small, live-in grandson began showing signs
of Asperger Autism. He's lived with me now for 9 of
his 11 years, and I've done substitute teaching since
I retired - mostly as an elementary school librarian
(which I love!) I'm in the process of co-writing a book
with several women friends, and had an article about
my Depression-era memories published in a magazine - so maybe I have a new career ahead! I can
build a new Hope Chest and start all over again! I'd
be interested in hearing from anyone who has an autistic child in the family: phillisking@juno.com
Bill Koons -Tina Murphy (Jack Murphy's widow)
held her annual Super Bowl party. In attendance were
Ron Wllllamson, Orville and Shirley Watson Pettibone, Jack and Lynn McGinnis, Dennis Clark, and
Anne and I. A good party - but the wrong team won!
Judy Turner - I'm a realtor in San Diego, and just
moved to a new office (Windermere) in Liberty Station. I always love to help fellow Seattleites - so if
you're in the market for a new home in this area -
contact me at: http://www.judyturner.com or at the office:
619-269-2266.
Fred Wright - I'm going to Chicago on 2/29 to
take part in a conference and will be leading a new
workshop on the role of the right brain in generating
healing in psychotherapy. There are fascinating new
research findings on the power of the right brain in
human psychology. Also, I continue to marvel at the
wonder of grandchildren. I was too busy striving to
give my own children full attention. (I think most of
us feel that way - L.) Grandchildren give a second
chance to pay attention, I'm learning.
RECENT PASSINGS: Roy L. Cosper - December 16, 2008. Roy graduated from the UW with a BS
in Mechanical Engineering. Married Joyce in 1958
and had three children, and eight grandchildren.
Darlene Knutson McDivitt - December 2, 2008,
after a courageous 16-year battle with breast cancer.
Married to Donald McDivitt for 53 years. They had two
children and four grandchildren. Her brother-in-law,
Ted Jenes, writes that she handled the entire 16-year
ordeal with a lot of class and composure. She never
lost her sense of humor and never indulged in self-pity. She was a heroic example to those who shared
her life and her last months. She died at Overlake
Hospital surrounded by her entire extended family
and a number of close friends.
REQUEST: MYA Kapoi (Marjorie Yeadon) would
like to know if anyone knows the whereabouts of Pat
Sarver, a close high school friend. Pat married Randy Johnson - we're not sure if he went to Lincoln. If
you know how to contact Pat, please let me (Loretta),
Martha Houk, or MYA know. Her e-mail is: myakapoi@comcast.net.
Thanks.
IF YOU GO TO NYC: Bob Hanna (deceased)
and his partner in their Philadelphia architecture firm
redesigned Bryant Park in the heart of Manhattan -
one of Manhattan's most prestigious parks. There is
a plaque at one of the entrances to the park, crediting Bob with this. The park is located behind the
NYC Public Library's main building, It's bounded by
42nd Street on the north side, 5th Avenue on the east
side (behind the library which faces 5th), 41st Street
on the south side, and The Avenue of the Americas
(formerly 6th Avenue) on the west side. A very nice
accomplishment for a Lincoln boy. (Thank you, Fred
Wright for that information - L.)
I wrote about Keith Baker in the last issue – who was supposed to graduate with our class. Somehow I got the e-mail address wrong. If you're interested in communicating with him, here it is:
kacybaker@comcast.net.
Orville Pettibone called to say he was sorry that he and Shirley couldn't make the reunion, but they are doing fine and thank everyone for their prayers when Shirley was in the hospital.
Don and Gail Helland are back in Arizona - trying to find sunshine. (They missed some great fall sunshine here).
Dennis Clark is off for the winter, after working the Mariners' games' all summer. Tough watching a losing baseball team for that long! Hope next season will be better.
Don and Millie Olson are also in Arizona enjoying the sun. Don is getting stronger every day and will be back hitting the ball before long.
Willie Hoppe is planning a trip to California in January - might stay a month in Palm Springs if the market settles down.
Joe Johnston made a trip to Italy, then a trip to see Fred and Phyllis Wrlght in NYC. He says they had a great time. He's still settling lawsuits in California. He
loves the work and will keep at it until they run out of cases for him to solve.
Gail Herzog writes that she's still dancing her way through life, trying to save the world, and listening to Leo Kottke (the greatest guitarist of the 20th Century)
(her words), and LOVING her 5:00 Martini! Gail gave up the chairmanship of the Reunion Committee after 30 years - reluctantly. She had to have colon surgery
and didn't have the energy to continue. She said that she considers heading the committee one of the most significant experiences of her life, and she loved getting to know her classmates on the committee and at the reunions. "Age and experiences are such a wonderful common denominator, no more cliques, just people getting together in the reality of life." Her career is going well - she's the owner and resident manager of a 9 unit complex in South Everett. Being a late bloomer, it took her until recently to find out what she was going to be when she grew up!
She's looking forward to seeing everyone at the 60th reunion.
We've had several deaths since the last issue:
Kay Peck Bartlett, August 7, Dottie Jean McKinney Hodson, July 4, Buddean Edna Schmidt Carstensen, August 29, Wanda Lee Hinrichsen Jacobson, October 4, 2008, Don Helland's brother, Wayne, passed away recently. So did my brother
- John Ransom - '58. Fellow committee member - Marnie Oslin's husband, Ray, died after a long battle with cancer. Our love and sympathy go out to all of
you.
Please send me, Bill Koons, or Darrell Bangerter any news about yourself - we're always interested in keeping up on our slowly shrinking class, and putting these items in the Totem II are a good way to do it. Thanks. Loretta Ransom Hucks
Not too long ago, Randy and I became re-acquainted with a couple we've known for many years,
through teaching. We sat down for a chat, and discovered that we had crossed paths many times in
our earlier lives. Here's the story:
Keith Baker should have graduated from Lincoln
in 1953. However, his mother died when he was 14.
His dad eventually remarried and moved the family
to Edmonds before Keith's senior year. Before that,
though, he went to Oak Lake Elementary School
through the 7th grade, Hamilton Jr. High for 8th grade,
and Lincoln for 9-11, graduating from Edmonds High
School in 1953.
Friends in our class that Keith remembers from
elementary school and Bethel Presbyterian Church
@ 110th and Greenwood are: John Georgeadis, Clint
Howard, Marlene Latimer, Joanne Barker, Don
Nelson, Dee Hewitt, Doug Houk and Chet Smith.
Keith would love to hear from any of you and others
who may remember him. His e-mail address is:
kacybake@comcast.net.
After high school Keith was in the Coast Guard for
4 years, and then attended the U of W for 2 quarters.
He graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane (as
did my husband, Randy) in 1961. He met and married Carolyn there. Another "small world": Keith taught
in Port Angeles (as did Randy) from 1961- 1969 at
Steven's Junior High. The family moved down here &
he taught in Bellevue (as did Randy) at Hyak Junior
High and Ringdahl Middle School. He also coached
football, basketball and track at these schools and
Bellevue High for 15 years. His wife Carolyn and I
also taught in the Lake Washington School District at
the same time. All four of us are in a seniors (are we
THAT old???) exercise class at the Y, and they're jazz
fans, too - so we've gotten them into the festivals
that we enjoy so much.
If you know of anyone else who should have graduated with us in 1953, but did not, and they'd like to
get in touch with old friends, let me, Bill Koons, or
Darrell Bangerter, at our website know.
LOST AND FOUND
Thanks to the intrepid, resourceful and always amazing Ginny Munn, the Editor of the Totem II, we've
"found" some people who've been "lost" for 55 years.
I talked to most of them and they have some very
interesting stories.
Pride Neaville Davies: Attended B.F. Day, West
Woodland, Hamilton, then moved to Blaine. She came
back to Seattle for her senior year at Lincoln. Pride's
been married and living in Kenmore (in my neighborhood) for 52 years. She has a son and daughter, and
has visited her daughter, who is a journalist for the
Associated Press, in Africa, London and Washington, D.C. Her daughter is married to a photo-journalist who's won the Pulitzer Prize, twice. Pride started
college in 1972, and was at the U of W at the same
time as her daughter. They were in one class together
- Human Sexuality! Her daughter said, "Mom is this
how it really is?" Pride is a CPA and still working.
She said that with the tax laws changing so much,she could work until she's 100!
Karl Gunstrom: Has lived in Seaside, California
for 50 years. After graduation he did logging in North
Bend, before moving to Seaside where he was in
home construction. During his high school years, he
was ill for one year - and actually should have graduated in 1952. Karl remembers kids dipping their
straws in the mashed potatoes and shooting them at
the ceiling! He's a life-long bachelor.
Bernita Tausan Howard: Lived in Grayland, WA
for many years. Her husband was retired from the
Navy, and then became a chief. Bernita retired from
the telephone company. After her husband died, she
moved to Issaquah to be near her daughter and grandson. She called the one-bedroom apartment where
she moved, a "motel" for months - maybe thinking it
wouldn't be permanent.
Larry Landaal: Served in the military - in Korea,
Germany and Pakistan. Don Bonner was a friend
who went in the service with him. Larry retired and
has lived in Alaska for 28 years - outside Anchorage
- where he worked for the Department of Corrections,
as a guard and counselor for sex offenders. He and
his wife, Rina, have 6 children, 12 grandchildren and
8 great-grandchildren. "Busy family!
Chuck Moshier: Chuck has had a very interesting and exciting career in the aerospace program at
Boeing. He managed over 3,000 computer programs
for commercial airplanes and managed simulation
centers and pilots - including Neil Armstrong, who
worked with him for about 3 months. They worked on
the lunar rover for moon exploration. "It was a very
enjoyable experience." Chuck and his wife have 4
children and 7 grandchildren. They don't go to a lot
of evening events - but would love to go to a picnic,
like we used to have in connection with our reunions.
An old friend of Chuck's is Harold Vadset.
Charles Rushmer: Lives in Renton and worked
as a building inspector at Boeing, and now teaches
seminars about building inspection. Charles is also
a life-long bachelor.
Lois Anseth Simmons: Lois
attended Oak Lake Elementary
and Hamilton Jr. High before
coming to Lincoln. She went to
PLU in Tacoma where she met
and married her husband, Martin. They've been married for 52
years. Her husband is a minister and served congregations in
North Dakota. They have 2 sons & 2 daughters, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. Lois received her Bachelors degree from Minot
State College in 1984. She worked at USDA for 11
years and taught piano for 25 years. She's now retired and living in Fargo. Lois said that her favorite
classes were Retail Selling with Miss Candee and
English with Mrs. Kwapil. "They were great teachers!"
2008 SPRING (WINTER) SEASON This last winter (spring?) was so cold and rainy here in Seattle
(unbelievable - I know), that many people set up escape plans for then and next year:
Arnt Thorkildsen moved from Shelton, Washington, to Mexico. Willie Hoppe and his brother (a '45
grad) went to Palm Springs to look for a place to hide
for this winter. Joe Johnston went to Europe - Rome,
Pompeii, Paris. Bill & Ann Koons went to Palm Springs
and Sun City, AZ. Loretta & Randy Hucks went on
their annual trek to Puerto Vallarta - and will be back
there for the month of March in 09. Darrell Bangerter
went to a family reunion in Idaho (not warmer, surely).
(Have you ever gotten one of those "techie" emails from
Darrell?? He is the best! Ginny, Editor).
Fred Wright and his wife Phyllis went on a 9 day
tour of Greece and the Greek Islands in May - "The
weather was clear & sunny, the sky & ocean a lovely
blue and most of the houses a shining white. (Thanks
a lot, Fred - now we're all envious). The food was
also delicious, and visiting the temples and buildings
thousands of years old is quite a treat as well. The
Parthenon is especially impressive and emotionally
moving. Human beings, ancient and modern, are a
very impressive bunch, indeed. I recommend the trip."
THIS 'N THAT
M.Y.A. Kapoi (fka Marjorie Yeadon) - planned to
make the 55th reunion, but in February she fell and
sustained a three-way fracture of her right patella
(kneecap) and in the process of attempting to recover
from that, "blew" the left hip that was already failing.
She had surgery in May and wants all her classmates
to know how much she wanted to join us. She was in
Seattle in the fall of 2007, and visited with her old
buddy, Martha Gebert Houk.
Folke Nyberg - spent a month in Sweden where
he has a home and many relatives. He wishes all his
classmates the best. He's sorry he couldn't make
the reunion.
Steve Sourapas - had open heart surgery and
now has a stent.
Bill Squibb - as of the end of June, was in Providence Hospital in Everett.
Don Rall - volunteers at a camp on Whidbey Island for 1-parent kids.
Phillis Pappe Skagrud - also volunteers at this camp.
Bill Koons - has 4 daughters. His 2nd daughter
went to Uganda on a mission when Idi Amin was in
power. She and her husband are now selling everything, taking their 5 children, aged 18 months to 12
years, and going back to Uganda to teach in a school
where there are 140 HIV-positive orphans. They will
be there for 3 years.
Barbara Ripke Callahan - saw an article in Totem II, spring 08, from Maybelle Pue, class of '34.
Barbara knew Maybelle when her husband was the
bartender of the Driftwood Inn on Market Street in
Ballard.
Nice email from Dick Evans: We were in Seattle
for therapy as Judy had knee replacement surgery.
As to me, I served two years in the Navy as a Supply
Officer on the USS Shangri La, CVA 38. I spent 9
years in the reserves until our unit was being sent to
Vietnam. I married Judy Sahlberg in 1958 and we will
be celebrating 50 years this coming December with
our 5 children putting on a party at Rosario Resort.
After service I spent 6 months at Boeing working for
a former Commanding Officer in the Navy and then I
had a great career selling life insurance for our company, R. L. Evans Co, Inc. which is now run by our
kids. We had lived on Star Lake, Hunts Point and
now at Olga on Orcas Island.
We have 8 acres on the water and Judy has a three
acre fenced garden that we moved (all 5000) plants
from Hunts Point. I have served for 8 years on the
San Juan County Park Board and was Chair for 3
years before retiring. Now I serve on the Citizen's
Salary Board setting elected officials salary and increases. I was Commodore of the Orcas Island Yacht
Club last year and was a member of Seattle Rotary
for over 40 years. We have a 48' Toll craft and enjoy
going North with the other yacht club members. I still
work for about 16 clients and manage their money
which I really enjoy, but some day that too will have to
come to an end. And that is my story.
Bill Koons & I went to Bagley Elementary school
- and I read that 3 of our classmates from there and
Lincoln, have recently passed away - Joan McFall,
Joanne Stenmoe & Vallen Carte.
Jeanne Zavales Boss enjoys spending time with her two
daughters and six grandchildren
who all live in the Seattle area.
In 2006 she took her 1st trip to Greece to see the land of her
father. She also visited the village where her maternal grandmother was born. What a memorable and special trip!
Well, kids, that's it for this time.
Good to hear from so many of
you. Keep in touch. Let me - Loretta Ransom Hucks
- lor.randy@verizon.net - or 425-488-7980 - know
what you're doing so I can put it in the next issue of
the Totem II. Alternatively - let Bill Koons -
snookykoon@comcast.net or Darrell Bangerter -
dhbang3@comcast.net know. This will be after the
fact, but I'm looking forward to seeing so many of you
at the reunion. As of June, we had over 100 people
coming! Great!
From Barbara Ripke Callahan - I was born March
18, 1934 in Seattle, WA. My childhood years were
spent at 44th & Stoneway where we lived in a duplex.
When I was 16 years old, we moved to North Seattle.
I attended Interlake Grade School, Hamilton Jr. High
and graduated
from Lincoln in
1953. I briefly attended Griffith
Business School
after graduation. I
worked while in
school, part time,
and had a job
waiting for me after graduation at
Foster and Kleiser
Outdoor Advertising Company. After working there for about 2 years
as a steno and billing clerk, I was offered a job at
Parker-Henry Glass Company as assistant bookkeeper and inside sales. It was here I met my husband and married in 1955.
In 1956 we started All City Glass Company, which
we ran out of our home. I had 4 children, two boys
and two girls. In 1963 I lost my youngest daughter to
a heart condition and in 1972 I lost my husband in a
boating accident at Westport, WA. Valley Glass Company purchased All City Glass Company from me after
my husband's death and I went to work for them. In
1973 I was offered a job at Temperline, Inc., a shower
door manufacturer and sub division of F. L. Hartung
Glass Company, a wholesale glass company.
In 1982 I remarried and in 1983 moved to Los Angeles to open up a branch office. In 1990 we moved to
Yuma, AZ to manage a resort/motel for a friend. We
retired in 1999 and built a home in the foothills of Yuma.
My passion in life has always been music, and I have
enjoyed sewing since my children were young. After
retirement, I pursued a life-long interest I have had in
quilting. I joined the Desert Lily Quilters club in Yuma,
and have made quilts for all my children and grandchildren. On March 18 of this year, I celebrated the birth of
my first great granddaughter. Note: My daughter was
also born on my birthday. My life, since retirement, has
been blessed with family and good health. One thing
God has taught me over the years is, that everything in
life happens for a reason and we become a stronger
person because of the life experiences we have.
(Barbara's parents and my parents were friends when
we were young and though we lived far apart geographically, me above Lake City on the West side, we enjoyed
time as friends. Editor, Ginny Munn)
•Th-th-th-thats all folks!"
Greetings everybody, from Loretta Ransom
Hucks! Carolyn Ward Edwards has had to resign
as class representative for personal reasons. Our
many heartfelt thanks to her for the time she's put in
doing this job for so many years. Most of you have
most likely received information about the 55-year
reunion by now. If not, it will be July 25 at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood. There is more detailed
information on our official website - www.lincolnhighseattle1953.org.
You can also contact Bill Koons at snookykoon@comcast.net who
is now the chairman. Gall Thomas Herzog has had
to take a leave of absence. She recently underwent
very serious colon surgery, but is looking forward to
dancing again, very soon, and seeing everyone in
July.
We've had several deaths this
past year, but we wish to particularly acknowledge John Heilbrunn.
Gail Thomas Herzog wrote the
following obituary about John: The
class of '53 is indebted to John for
the role he played in getting our
class reunions underway 30 years
ago. When Gail Thomas Herzog
decided to organize the reunion
committee it was November, 1977.
She called the school to see if anyone else was interested and got John's name. She
called John and said, "This is going to be a push to
get it done for June, 1978 - with Christmas coming."
He said, "Not to worry. I'm Jewish!" John had an
insurance office in Bellevue and offered the office for
the administrative details. The process began: stuffing envelopes, licking stamps and envelopes and
seeking contributions to cover costs. It was an amazing operation - most of which he organized. Friendships were established between classmates, who
barely knew each other at Lincoln, and are still going
strong. Aging is a great common denominator. We
have all gone through similar life experiences.
Everyone worked together and a great 25-year
reunion was the result. Thank you, John, from all of
the class of 1953 for your work. You'll be missed. John
Heilbrunn, of Camano Island, died Dec. 11, 2007 in
Everett. He was born in Hamburg, Germany July 18, 1935 to Ernest and Margot Heilbrunn. John was a
member of the Holiday Rambler RV club, an insurance agent for 42 years in the Bellevue area. He
leaves his wife, Barbara of 53 years, his two sons,
John, Jr. of Plant City, FL, and David of Maple
Valley, his three daughters, Lee Anne Thibodeaux of
Bothell, Kathy Fernandez-Sierra of Camano Island,
Sharon Steiner of Des Moines, IA.
Recently, George Eastman submitted a CD of our
Lincoln Chanters recorded on December 21, 1952.
The Chanters were featured on a program called
"Voices of the Northwest," presented on KOMO. Part-way through the half hour program, the announcer talks about Lincoln High School, the Chanters, and
Carl Pitzer. You can find a link to the program on the
"Our Music" page at our web site. Darrell
Bangerter, Webmaster, received several responses
to the above item: From Alda Rice Reynolds: It was
neat to be transported "back in time" by listening to
the link you provided. I continue to marvel (enviously)
at your skills with the computer. Perhaps someday,
when I'm not so involved with other projects, I'd like
to attempt a website for our ladies barbershop quartet, "Four On A Match". We're still very busy performing. While I'm "snow birding" it here in Melbourne,
they practice back in Maine. We had our 3rd annual
Florida retreat just last week, though.
My singing buddies escaped the wintry blast back
home and enjoyed some real warm weather here in
the Sunshine State. We even viewed the most recent lift-off from Cape Canaveral, right in our back
yard. It was thrilling!
Judy Turner writes: Thank you for putting that on
- I absolutely loved it! That Mr. Pitzer was a genius
to get such music out of a bunch of kids. I was in
Chanters 3 or 4 years. Did you hear me on there? I
was the alto - 3rd from the left. Actually, it was one of
the highlights of my high school years - loved singing as part of a group!
Lois Peterson Eastman had this to say: I really
enjoyed listening to the Chanters concert. I can remember that day. Kay Peck Bartlett and I were skiing all day and just barely made it back to the studio
on time for our concert. But we did. Ski clothes and
all.
Marjorie Yeadon Kapoi replied: I was a Chanter
in 10th, 11th and half of 12th grades and remember
fondly this program and also a program that we presented from the balcony of the Civic Auditorium while
the All-City Choir sang from the stage. We were told
by the people in attendance that the Chanters singing from the balcony could be heard better than the All-City Choir singing from the stage.
The recent T-Day celebration, part of the 100-year
birthday of Lincoln High School, was attended by a
few '52 and '53 graduates: Ron Williamson; Claudia
Benedict Wagner and her husband, Joe; Ed
Fruehling and Jim Stoa; Mavis Dodge Amundson
and her husband. Mavis reports that Jo Case
Dawson, the special guest of honor, told the crowd
how T-Day got started. She was a junior at Lincoln in
1944 when she was elected Girls Club President. Not
long after, officers from various Girls Clubs throughout the city high schools gathered at Beaver Lake to
talk about plans for their schools. "I want to start a
special day at Lincoln because we don't have one,"
Jo told the Beaver Lake group, and T-Day was born.
The following year, Lincoln celebrated its first Tradition Day on February 12, the birthday of Abraham
Lincoln.
The 2008 event featured a lineup of former Mr. and
Mrs. Lincolns. Photos in the hall included our very
own Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln - Don Brown & Marilyn Spurr
Rall. We all thought that they were the best ever!
(See the centerfold for pictures.)
Fred Wright will teach a course on group therapy
at Adelphi University on Long Island this spring. He'll
also present on the same topic at The American
Group Psychotherapy Association national conference at the end of February. Finally, he has a two-year-old grandchild (his first) and now knows the
meaning of life - after a long search.
Gayle Brozovich Warrington who owned the Elegant Clutter in Danville, CA, for many years -
finally retired from that very successful business and
decided to take up a "little hobby." Antiquing! Now
she and two partners are busy again - displaying and
selling at an Antique Mall in Petaluma.
Don Olson is recovering from esophageal cancer
surgery. He's gone from a 36 to a 32 waist! Kind of a
tough way to do it. Bill Koons says he's in good
spirits.
Bill & Ann Koons went to Palm Springs to visit
Joe Johnston and play golf. Don Helland and Jim
Berg are in Arizona playing golf, also.
Loretta Ransom Hucks & her husband, Randy,
spent March in Puerto Vallarta- soaking up sun, surf,
sound of waves crashing on the rocks, a few
Margaritas, lots of Mexican beer!
Please send me information about what and how
you're doing - things I might be able to use in the
next issue of Totem II. If not to me - then to Bill
Koons whose e-mail address is earlier in this column. Mine is lor.randy@verizon.net.
Don't forget to check in at our website occasionally - catch up on what's going on, leave a note
in the guestbook. Many, many thanks to Darrell
Bangerter for doing this - he's amazing, isn't he?
Until next time - all the best to everyone. Loretta
Shirley Tarbox Taylor of Allyn,
WA was born in Rochester, NY on
June 2, 1935 and passed away
while in Surprise, Arizona on November 13, 2007. Shirley was a
song leader while at Lincoln. She was
married to PGA Golf Professional,
Ernie S.Taylor. Shirley served as
Food and Beverage Director for
numerous Golf and Country Clubs
in the Puget Sound region. She was also a very successful real estate agent and family accountant. Shirley's passion for life and love for Jesus served as a road map for her children to follow. Shirley had a
profound love for her dogs, cats, and horses. She was
a wonderful teacher, nursemaid, confidant and friend.
Shirley's adventurous nature led to the purchase of a
motor coach for travel and to have fun. Shirley loved
going new places and especially enjoyed her trip to
Mexico and fly-fishing Montana's Bitterroot River and
Rock Creek. She adored the RV life and the opportunity to meet new friends along the way. Ernie and
Shirley bought a home in Surprise, Arizona and she enjoyed spending the winters there. Preceded in death
by her father, Kenneth Tarbox, mother Jody Tarbox,
first husband William Wonders and son Dale Wonders of Belfair,Washington. She is survived by her husband
Ernie Taylor; daughters Vicki Napoleone of Bulleen,
Australia, Lori Voller of Eatonville, WA, Laura Gainor
of Spokane, WA, son Ernie Taylor Jr. of Bellevue, WA
daughter Michele Werdall of Allyn, WA.
Martha Gebert Houk writes: I always thought that
the world was so big, but I am finding as I get older it
is really small. I grew up across from Lincoln in the
little grocery store on 43rd & Interlake. Down the
street towards 42nd lived Fran Barden, (O'Dea '53)
He had an older sister named Peg Barden. Then
middle block was Don Snyder and a fellow named
Frank Lowry '43. Back in the mid 70's when I was working
for University Savings Bank (Ins Sub.) we hired a
lady named Peg Lowry. During a conversation one
day we were talking about Lincoln and she said she
lived down the street from Lincoln.
I asked where and she said 42nd & Interlake.I
asked her maiden name and she said Barden. I nearly
fell off my chair. So after a few years later I got to see
Fran again. Then at my sister-in-law's funeral,
Darlene Houk Spivey '57, I was talking to an old
family friend Ron Dunn (brother Ken Dunn, '51 was
a friend of my husband Delmis '51), about moving.
Ron & his wife Joyce Oster Dunn '55 asked me
where I was moving to. I said Gleneagle in Arlington.
He said that is where he and Joyce live on the 8th
hole. Another shock! At the Lincoln luncheon in June
2007 at the Lake City Elks I ran into Frank and Peg
again. Frank said, "where did you say you moved
to"? I said Gleneagle. He looked at me and said I
think that is where Fran moved to. Fran had lived in
Portland for years. Sure enough when I got home from
the luncheon I called Fran. Come to find out he not
only lives in Gleneagle, but just down my same street
about a block and a half. So you see the world really
isn't that big.
Robert (Bob) Harrop died in
Tampa, FL on 3/17/04 due to liver
disease. He is survived by his wife,
Edie, and two children. He graduated from U of W in accounting and
joined the U.S. Air force and had a
22-year career retiring with the
rank of Major and a navigator on
reconnaissance planes flying out
of Omaha, NE, Strategic Air Command Headquarters. After retirement at 47 he and his family moved
to a warmer climate, namely the
Tampa area. He then went back to school and received a nursing degree and worked at nursing many
years. He also had a Masters degree in counseling.
Jeanette C. Bronk Snowden
passed away 1/6/05. She attended
Haller Lake, Jane Addams, and
then Lincoln as reported by her
best friend Helen Argus.
Robert R. Shefchik passed
away March 17, 2007.
Dorothy Janice Brown
Nicklaus died February 25, 2008
in Federal Way, WA. She was born
December 29, 1934 in Hickory
Plains, AR to Alice L. (Cloclasure)
and James T. Brown. She moved
with her family to Seattle in 1946 and graduated in
1953. Dorothy married Vernon D. Nicklaus on October 26,1956, resided in Federal Way until 1976, then
moved to the home they built in Edgewood until Vern
passed away in 2003, after 46 years of marriage.
Dorothy worked for the Federal Way School District
as an educational assistant for nearly 25 years. She
truly enjoyed working with children and was happiest
with her grandchildren. Dorothy and Vern enjoyed traveling, fishing and just putzing around on the "farm".
She is survived by her children: Kim Daniels of Federal Way, Kaylene Dent of Waynesville, MO and Kelly
of Puyallup.
John W. "Wes" Coppage, 73, of Henderson,
passed away Feb. 6, 2008. He was born July 13, 1934,
in Seattle, and had resided in Nevada for 39 years.
Wes was employed by the City of Henderson for 25
years. He served in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy
Reserves. Wes was married to his loving wife, Joan,
in Vancouver, Canada, in 1961. He was past president of the Las Vegas Good Sam RV Club. Besides
RVing, he loved working in his garage, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.
Wes is survived by his wife, of 46 years, Joan; his
daughter, Heather Jonas.
THANK you to Lynx who have paid their dues: Arline Shulmier Daniel, Seattle, WA, Carolyn Ward
Edwards, Mountain Home, AR, Peter & Marlene
Holman Hansell, Burlington, WA, Robin G. Buchan,
Des Moines, WA 98198, Jack H. McGinnis, Lake
Forest Park, WA, James L.Tollefson, Modesto, CA,
James & Barbara Atkins Green, Wenatchee, WA.
THANK you to Lynx who have gifted the Scholarship Program: Arline Shulmier Daniel (in memory
of Ray Shulmier '50), Carolyn Ward Edwards, Jack
H. McGinnis, James L.Tollefson.
I had a great email from Judy Fosse Snider. She
is giving her brother a subscription to Totem II for his
birthday. How is that for a great idea!!?? Judy and
husband Neal have recently returned from a cruise
on the QE-2. They left from Southampton, England
and traveled up the coast of Norway, visiting the
fjords, waterfalls, and gorgeous scenery of Norway.
They sailed up above the Artic Circle visiting a number of cities. The QE-2 has been sold to Dubai and
after this year will be used as a hotel there, making
the Snider cruise a historic event.
I understand Sally Jo Eaton Kregger is looking
for property in Oregon with oldest son Steve. She
now resides in California - where it is TOO hot. Sally
was widowed after 52 years of marriage and raising
four children. She makes jewelry and she and her
son have a shop and do some antique shows.
Lila Heywood Hageselle and husband live in Seattle-same house for 45 years; have raised four children and have several grandchildren. Sally Jo Eaton
Kregger and Lila were best friends at Lincoln and all
through college.
Sad to report: Sharon Squibb Brown died June
23, 2007. Our deepest sympathy to her husband
Don, daughter Kathy, son Dan, and her twin brother,
Billy. Note: This notice appeared in the last issue of
Totem II with an incorrect photo. The notice and photo
were inserted after my column material had been
completed and released by me. My apologies for
this error. (Your Editor and our Publisher offer apologies too! Sometimes computers, and cyberspace.
are mysterious let alone a HUGE newspaper!! We
try to be perfect to no avail. Very Sorry!! Editor. Ginny
Munn)
Jean Adele Mathewson
Worthington died September
26, 2007. Our deepest sympathies to husband Forrest and son Steve.
I always.appreciate hearing
from classmates and appreciate receiving news you would
like to share with classmates
thru the Totem II column. Contact me anytime. See the back
of each issue of Totem II for my
name/snail mail/email addresses.
Have a great winter
and holiday season! [Written by Carolyn Ward Edwards.]
Loretta Ransom Hucks reports that she thought she could fly (maybe too many super hero movies) but instead, tripped over shoes and crashed into the wall and floor. She had several stitches on her face and crushed left shoulder. She has become the bionic woman; with a metal ball and shaft for her shoulder! Husband Randy had a 2 plus month hospital stay with gall bladder and triple by-pass surgery. We do hope Loretta and Randy are doing OK now.
Fred Wright has been busy. He was the keynote speaker at a conference in Belfast Northern Ireland. Fred has a psychology practice in New York City and is Professor of Psychology at the City University of New York. Fred reports that his new grandson, Luke, is amazing!
Had two reports of classmates' deaths:
LATE NEWS: Sharon Irene Squibb Brown 10/16/1935 - 6/23/2007 Known as "Shug" to many, passed away after a brief battle of lymphoma cancer on June 23, 2007 at the age of 71 with her loving family by her side. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Sharon graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953, and married her high school sweetheart, Don in 1955. During her 51 years of marriage she raised two children and enjoyed working 30+ years at the Lake City Elks Club. Sharon was known for her kind, caring, generous heart and strong Catholic faith. She lived for her family and loved the outdoors, her cats, and gardening. Sharon will be greatly missed and forever remembered with love by her husband, Don, her daughter, Kathy, son, Dan.
Spring 2007 Hello Classmates: Hope you all had happy Christmas Holidays and now we are looking forward to
spring!
Winter 2006
Hello Lincoln High Classmates - or perhaps I should say "Aloha". Husband, Lyn, and I just returned from a fabulous Hawaiian
Cruise vacation. We and 38 others from Mountain Home, Arkansas, flew nonstop from Daltas to Honolulu then spent 7 days on
the Pride of Hawaii - Norwegian Cruise Lines new ship. It was great to be so pampered - as one of my friends said, if you
wanted, the crew would even brush your teeth for you. We took in all the sights of four islands — including visits to Pearl
Harbor, the Battleship Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, Waikiki, Diamond Head, various volcano craters, and Luaus
and dancing. We were there during the earthquake but were not aware until watching CNN the next day. Some of my Mountain
Home friends suggested I may have set off the earthquake with my belly dancing. I know many of you cruise so how about an
email or note so I can report it for Totem II?
Fall 2006 Hello Classmates! Summer has arrived in the Arkansas Ozarks. It gets quite hot here. We don’t have the cool invigorating summers here like we enjoyed in Seattle. I received the interesting email Miles Yanick promised. What an interesting life Miles has had since leaving Lincoln! I especially enjoyed the bit in May 1957 when Miles, Jack McGinnis, Bill Koons, Jack Murphy, Jack Rogers and Bill Atwell shared a big house on Lake Washington. Miles started his architecture firm in 1969 and moved his office to Bainbndge Island in 1975. He still works full time. Miles and Molly Gordon Yanick have been happily married for 30 years. Our class has, in fact, produced several great architects - Miles, Gil Braida '54 and Bob Hanna to mention a few. You may know that Bob Hanna passed away in 2003. Bob had a very distinguished career. He lived in Pennsylvania at the time of his death. Thanks again Miles for the great email.
Spring 2006
Greetings Class of '53. Hope 2006 is going great for all! Everyone I have talked with sounds terrific. Thanks for the news.
I received a wonderful email from Bill Furbush.
Bill remarried June 10,2006. Congratulations Bill and
Debbie! They have built a new home at Heritage Ranch
Golf and Country Club in Fairview, TX near Dallas.
Bill and Debbie have organized a ballroom dance club
at Heritage Ranch with 104 members. Bill taught
dancing in college and teaches now for their club. I
asked Bill if they allowed Belly Dancing and he said
absolutely. In fact, they had some Belly Dancers at
their club. They got Bill into their routine and balanced
swords on him! That sounds wilder than the Senior
Assemblies where Fred Wright entertained us!
Information was received concerning Mary Fowler Trimble and her
new career as an author. Mary was Secretary of the Girl's Club at Lincoln. Her
interest in writing was a result of sailing the South
Pacific with husband Bruce. Bruce takes photos for Mary's articles.
Mary has had articles published in many magazines. She has authored
two novels, "Rosemount" and "McClellan's Bluff".
Mary is also active in Red Cross work. (Read more about Mary and Bruce on
Class of 53 website).
The All Class Lincoln High Luncheon is scheduled
for June 2, 2007 at the Elks Club in Lake City. Our
class is in charge this year. Bill Koons is chairman.
Speaking of Bill, I was looking through some photos
and saw one of Bill and Denny Clark in big saddle
shoes. Mercy Me!! They surely did look sharp.
Denny, if you saved those shoes you could wear them
when hosting at Mariners games!
Lincoln High School will be 100 years old this year.
The Alumni Association is planning a number of
events to commemorate the centennial. Lorna
Tampico Hamill '77 is Chairman of volunteers and
will need lots of help. Darrell Bangerter said they
were considering a T-Day event in 2008. Remember the T-Day
of our senior year? Don Brown was President Lincoln and Marilyn Spurr was Mrs. Lincoln. It was a great day.
Diane Linneman Bicknell reports that the
Bicknells had planned to celebrate their 50th wedding
anniversary by driving US Route 66, Chicago to Santa
Monica in their beautiful 66 Impala convertible.
However, they opted for an easier way; a Trafalgar
Bus trip. (Good decision! My husband and I love
Trafalgar!)
In addition to Bud and Diane Bicknell, several
other of our classmates are celebrating 50th anniversaries; Ron and Barb Plenge Hill, Dick and Elaine
Taylor Jones, Joy Olson and Forrest Mickelson,
and Hettie and Lloyd Kinner '52. The Kinner's and
Bicknell's were married at Zion Lutheran Church by
Gene Bensene's father.
I received a lovely email for Alvina Ellis. She
wanted to notify classmates that her husband, Robert J. (Jim) Ellis had passed away January 12,2005
after losing his battle with cancer. All of our deepest
sympathies to Alvina and family. Alvina says she
teased him about all the dances he attended and all
the different girls he dated. In all the photos taken the
girls were never the same. Jim was a handsome fellow and good dancer - so all the Lincoln ladies liked
to dance with him. Also, our deepest sympathy to
Barbara Nelson Cheek whose husband Lee Roy
Cheek passed away in 2006.
As for us here in the Ozarks, early March, it is 30
degrees at noon and sunny. I am busy with church
(Presbyterian Elder), American Legion Auxiliary, Retired Federal Employees, Telephone Pioneers, etc. I
was asked, with three days notice, to do a belly dance
program for our church sweetheart dinner at a local
restaurant. I agreed though it takes 3 days to apply
enough makeup to become FADIMA. My husband
"helped" - he likes to apply all the "glitter" from the
waist up. We had a good turnout - about 80 -people
in our group.
Speaking of fabulous vacations let me tell you about classmates Judy Fosse Snider and Claudia Benedict Wagner and
their husbands and their trip to Australia and New Zealand. The Sniders and Wagners were married the same weekend in December
1958. The husbands-to-be, Neal and Joe met on the train enroute to Seattle. They each knew that their fiancees (Judy and
Claudia) had made honeymoon plans for Harrison Hot Springs. Neal and Joe agreed the couples should get together for dinner
while on their honeymoon. At the dinner Judy and Claudia recognized each other as classmates of '53. The couples have kept
in touch over the years and the recent trip was a chance to catch up on news. Joe and Neal are both Lutheran ministers.
Thanks to Gail Thomas Herzog for a nice note. Gail has a nine-unit apartment complex in Everett, WA that she manages.
Five units are occupied by her family members. Great for visits and family reunions!
Darrell Bangerter recently returned from a truly once in a lifetime multi-country European adventure. The adventure was
made even more exciting - or challenging - by his inadvertently leaving credit cards at home.
Minutes from the LLAA executive committee meeting reported Bill Koons was named chairman of the 2007 Banquet which likely
will be held in June. The class of '53 is in charge. Bill will do a great job.
Dale Gregory sent me a copy of a Lincoln High School Totem that he bought at an estate sale. An interesting and fun stroll
down memory lane! My, my, how boys basketball uniforms have changed in 50 years!
On a sad note, Lawrence (Larry) David Grout passed away October 20, 2006. After graduating from Lincoln, Larry served in
the Navy then in the Naval and later Army Reserves. He had distinguished careers both in the military and with the Seattle
Police Department where he retired as a Sergeant after 25 years. He was called to active duty for Desert Storm and earned
several awards before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 5.
Until next time; Please send me your news email, phone call, or US Mail.
Harlene Harvey Miller sent a nice note. Harlene attended Alexander Hamilton Intermediate prior to attending Lincoln.
Got a great note from Lawrence Vickers and wife Marlene Smith Vickers (Ballard '52). Both retired from Boeing in 1984. They have built a house at Ocean Shores, WA. They winter in Florida, California, and Hawaii. For their 50th anniversary in 2003 they took a great cruise through the Panama Canal and numerous other ports of call.
Loretta Ransom Hucks reports she is active in the Red Hat Society. She and husband Randy enjoy jazz festivals and dancing. They have 6 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Wow!
In an email from Jerry Reynolds he reported that he now lives in Montana and that his brother Jim '56 was looking forward to his upcoming 50th reunion.
John Georgeadis has moved back to Washington from Arizona.
I received a delightful card from Paul Martin '51 (aka Gene Buck). A great card! One to keep! These guys graduated before I got to meet them (my loss) as I arrived at Lincoln fall of 1951 for my junior year. Paul is curious about the current status of some of our classmates. If I can contact the classmates of interest and get their OK I will, of course, include the information in a future column. Paul always looks forward to receiving each Totem II Edition. To quote him, the Totem II is "the nation's finest paper of its kind!"
Since the last issue of Totem II, husband Lyn and I had a great trip to Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. Such beautiful and interesting countries! I even got to belly dance a little bit with the great live drum band in Tangier, Morocco at the historic Hotel El Minzah. Previous guests at the El Minzah have included King Juan Carlos of Spain, Winston
Churchill, Rita Hayworth and other notables. I really appreciate hearing from you with news for this column. Please contact me any one of three ways; email, phone, snail mail address (all on the back page of every Totem II). Include a note with your Alumni Association Dues/Membership renewal form. (These notes are sent to me).
I had a nice chat with Joe Murry who lives in Bremerton. I told him he sounded so young! He said he was! Joe is retired and he and Phyllis are doing fine.
Arline Shulmier Daniel lives just a block from Lincoln High. She said she didn’t get far from Lincoln. Arline is retired after working 17 years at a medical laboratory. I told her she sounded great and we agreed that Lincoln grads will just never get old. All our class members had and have such great and positive attitudes.
Our Totem II Editor Ginny Munn '56, passed along some news from Larry Bigham. Larry reported that after almost 20 years as a cab dispatcher in Seattle he was now retired and living in Loma, Montana - population about 80, not counting buffalo, horses and other animals. I found Loma on the map and it looks almost as remote and exciting as Mountain Home, Arkansas where I live! I tried to call Larry to learn more but have not heard from him at this writing.
I called Claudia Benedict Wagner who was not home but I visited with her husband Joe. They retired from the Chicago area where Joe taught at Northern Illinois University. They now live in Port Townsend. Their three adult children all live nearby in the Northwest.
I talked with Miles Yanick, of Bainbridge Island. He promises to send a newsy email; more from Miles next time.
Some sad news; Joyce Polasik Hoppe died 12/31/05. She had lived in Shoreline, WA.
Here in the Ozarks we WERE looking forward to springtime, having had mostly summer heat until this week. Then overnight the temperature went from 75 plus degrees to today's 14 degree HIGH with 6 inches of snow. My husband, Lyndel, and I are looking forward to touring Portugal, Spain, and Morocco next month. FADIMA (me) was invited to provide belly dancing and other entertainment for a SHRINER installation dinner here in Mountain Home. There were about 120 Shriners and spouses from all over the state - lots of fun. Please keep me posted on your news! Thanks much!