Fall Updates

Mike Fagerness checks in to report he's moved. And retired! And remodeled! And, and, and...Here's his news: "We moved from Gig Harbor to Tacoma in April. (Phone: 253-209-0466). Since retirement in 2013, my wife Carol and I have taken several road trips, to Lake Tahoe and San Diego and one flight to Mexico. Our summers and late springs are spent at our Birch Bay cabin 20 minutes north of Bellingham. The winters we plan on traveling, hopefully someplace warm. The only classmate I really keep in touch with, is Phil Johnston, we were fraternity brothers at WSU and remain good friends. I have seen Ron Torgeson a few times, the last time he was semi-retired and still the owner of Brookdale Lumber. Daughter Taryn, 34, is married, only a grand-kitty at this time. Son, 25, not married, moved home for the second time.

(And thank you, Mike, for the compliment: "Forgot to mention how much I liked the blog, it is great and I really appreciate all the work you have put into it.")

Carol Scafturon wrote in September to say she'd been in Tacoma for a quick visit with her mother, now relocated back from Camano Island, and had attended the memorial service for Patricia Cady, mother of Kevin, Ron, Doug and Janice. Kevin's singing at the service was beautiful, she tells us. Carol continues to work and volunteer in Juneau. And Kevin reports that she looks just as she always has...if she ever attended a reunion (that's a hint, Carol), she'd certainly receive the award for "Most Similar to Graduation Photo."

Richard Stroupe posted to our class Facebook page with the news that he now lives in Chanthaburi, Thailand. Looks retired, but he provides no information. HIS Facebook page has lots of photos of his boat! 

Rose Russo found this photo from Mrs. Wesley's second grade class at Parkland School. She recognized the following: JoAnn Anderson, Linda Cheetham, and Harriet Willard. The girl on the far right next to Harriet was named Gale. Whose names can you add? 

 It Was a Very Pleasant Afternoon for the 45th...

Karla Parker and husband Bill Emerson hosted dozens of members of the class of 1969 and several spouses (and one offspring) for a fabulous afternoon of tale-telling and reconnecting, made even more special by Don Becker's carefully crafted wines and an appearance by Kevin Cady and his band. Don also brought a salmon to grill and wine for the door prizes. And we were all refreshed by Burt Kreidler and Connie Kazda's ice-filled kiddie pool, their usual fabulous cooler for the potluck dishes, and of course we enjoyed the keg and coolers of beverages they provided.

We were delighted to see such a great cross-section of classmates (was every elementary represented?) and that we were joined by some classmates who had not previously attended a reunion. 

Kathy (now Katie) Graves, who went to Chicago after graduation from WSU and then on to Florida, was with us for the first time, and no surprise, took home the prize for most miles traveled. Tom Fletcher and wife Erin came from San Antonio, and Frank Dentinger from Ocean Shores. Paul Skones is bunking in Puyallup now, but still substitute teaching in Portland (seems like a LONG commute); he and Becky Soukup were among those we haven't seen before. Same for Marcey Welfringer, here from Eatonville. Sheila Peterson and Lynda Smith, two other "newbies," came from Port Orchard. Marsha Spencer and her husband arrived from Rochester, more newbies. Ray Parker, who we had not seen since the tenth (is your blogger right about that?) drove up in his vintage Austin Healy, later joined by brother Tommy, who won the prize for having owned a home the longest. (Did he say 41 years? He deserved the duct tape and baling wire prize from Karla!) Scott and Jennifer Buchanan were honored as the longest-married couple.

Among other attending (corrections to lindacarlson@earthlink.net):

Betty Absten and John Sable 
Rose Becker, assistant winemaker extraordinaire
Tom Bondo (chauffeured by Brian Johnson, thanks so much!)
Bob and Sandy Bradley
Karen Eley and John Crawford
Steve Elske
Colleen Fahey
George Ford and Gail Berntsen 
Jim Goddard
Carla Hansen and Tim Miller
Brian and Lori Johnson
Doug Koss
Gary Louderback (and the woman in his life, but no fireworks,!)
Bob and Qing Matson
Ruth Olsen and Jon Peterson
Rita Payne
Don Phipps
Kris Taft and Dennis Unkur
Larry Willoughby
Lorraine Wilson
and blogger Linda Carlson with daughter Karen, who was visiting from SoCal, and the trembling terrier