Big Sandy High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Big Sandy, MT)

Text from Pages 1 - 78 of the 1945 volume:

- MEMORIES BIG SANDY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 1945 Golden Anniversary AS DEW TO THE BLOSSOM, AND BUD TO THE BEE, AS THE SCENT TO THE ROSE, ARE THOSE MEMORIES TO ME. —Amelia B. Welby 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This golden anniversary booklet is the result of efforts by our individual members to jointly produce a lasting tribute to our community, our school, and our class. The BLAZED TRAILS 1945 publication for our senior class is reproduced in part and enlarged by continuing the personal history of our several classmates. This updated issue could not have been accomplished without the unselfish support and generous contributions of our members. They are especially commended for writing and submitting autobiographies and willingly sharing their pictures and experiences with others. While all our classmates without hesitation gave their enthusiastic help to the preparation of this booklet and our class reunion, several individuals deserve particular recognition for their good work. Violet was the mobilizing force in Big Sandy to bring our members together and organize the planning. Mernie provided many pages of good ideas for our class reunion and a large quantity of memorabilia from former school years for our booklet of which she consented to be the editor. Bob wrote a special article on the High School Band. Muriel, Erma, and Violet revised and improved our history account. The men of our class in Big Sandy designed and built the parade float. And not the least, Doris, in her gracious and noncomplaining style, typed the correspondence and the text for the entire edition. This commemorative booklet is hereby dedicated to the members of the Big Sandy High School Class of 1945 who made it possible. I extend to each and every one of them my utmost gratitude. Joe 2 CLASS REUNION 1995 JOE M. QUINN CLASS REUNION COORDINATOR AND BOOKLET PRODUCER MERNIE WRIGHT WEATHERS BOOKLET EDITOR CLASS REUNION COMMITTEE VIOLET LANIK DRGA WALTER J. MONSON LOUIS V. BEIRWAGEN LOUIS F. BEELER ERMA BUCHHOLZ REICHELT MURIEL LUND SILVAN LAURENCE R. OPHUS LEONA SANFORD GILMORE LOCAL OPERATIONS CONTACT FLOAT MANAGER FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET ERMA BUCHHOLZ REICHELT VIOLET LANIK DRGA MURIEL LUND SILVAN ROBERT L. GREEN MERNIE WRIGHT WEATHERS CLASS HISTORY CLASS HISTORY CLASS HISTORY BAND FEATURE RETAKES 3 HISTORY WE SHOULD NOT ASK WHO IS THE MOST LEARNED, BUT WHO IS THE BEST LEARNED. --Montaigne 4 CLASS OF 1945 MOTTO: WE FINISH TO BEGIN FLOWER: CARNATION COLOR: RED AND WHITE CLASS ROLL MARGARET BAKKE JORDAN LOUIS F. BEELER LOUIS V. BEIRWAGEN GERALD BERLINGER ERMA BUCHHOLZ REICHELT MARGARET COLE WARD TED ERIKSON D5L0RES GOECKS COURTNAGE DOROTHY GOECKS GEYER ROBERT L. GREEN CLINTON I. HAGEN FRANCES HENDERSON REICHELT HELEN HENDERSON CURTISS ROBERT INGRAM MARGARET KELLER PALMER KENNETH J. KING PAUL R. LABUDA VIOLET LANIK DRGA MURIEL LUND SILVAN MERLIN MANDSAGER WALTER J. MONSON EDWARD L. NYGARD LAURENCE R. OPHUS MYRON H. OPHUS EDWARD E. POKORNY JOE M. QUINN ETHEL RANDALL PILLING MARDELLA REICHELT JORDAN BLANCHE RILEY BRAVICK LEONA SANFORD GILMORE MERNIE WRIGHT WEATHERS BETTY YAMA DYER CLASS ADVISOR ALFREDA SIGG DRABBS DECEASED 5 CLASS POEM We, the Class of Forty-Five, Are glad we're here, and still alive; We do not sorrow, nor do we fret, Of things unseen, or those we've met. To look beyond, and start anew, A life, not patterned, but right and true. Some may falter, some may fail. But into the wind, the majority sail. With eyes uplifted and fate unborn, We trod, ever upward, never forlorn; To review what's happened to those in the past, We start life! for 'tis our die that's cast. Some shoot high, others aim low, What others accomplish, we may not know; 'Tis into the future that we cannot see, What's to become of this Class full of glee. Remember at will, our deeds well done. Forget not our follies, with the set of the sun; Think of us often, whether dead or alive, Remember us Always— The Class, Forty-Five . BLAZED TRAILS 1945 --Robert Green 6 CLASS HISTORY The Class of 1945 started first grade in September, 1933. At that time, there were fourteen of us. Only four members of the graduating class, Margaret Cole, Edward Nygard, Joe Quinn, and Robert Green spent their entire school career together. As the years rolled on, we grew and our class did too. When we finished the eighth grade, there had been forty-five different members in the grades. Some of these students came in from the country on school buses. At first, hot lunches were served mostly for the rural students. The hot lunches were soups made by the Home Economics girls and served to first, second and third graders during the winter months to eat with their sandwiches. Occasionally another hot dish was served. If the weather was unpleasant outside, Muriel Lund organized games for those who wanted to play after lunch before school started again. When we were freshmen, the School Lunch Program served from 60-70 hot meals each day and the cost per plate was a nickel. By the time we were seniors the cost had risen to a dime and 80-100 meals were served daily. During our pre-High School years we had only four different home room teachers. Zelda Bilile served in that capacity in grades one and two. Helen A. Meyer was in charge of us in the third, fourth and fifth grades; Freda Erfle, during our sixth year. Francis E. Miley supervised the Junior High (grades seven and eight), was our Principal for twelve years, and supervised the boys dormitory. We started first grade under Superintendent Earl F. Sykes. O. Lloyd Gillespie became our Superintendent in the third grade and Elmer Skeie in the fifth. Charles E. Hood was the Superintendent during our four high school years. As sixth graders, we joined the High School Band under the direction of Clarence F. Boess. Orion G. Hegre was director during our freshman year and continued until called to military service in the middle of our junior year. Clifford Knapp of Havre took over on a part-time basis for the remainder of that year and also the year we were seniors. Twelve members played in the High School Band and with their instruments are listed as follows: Margaret Bakke - cornet Margaret Cole - clarinet Delores Goecks - clarinet Bob Green - cornet Violet Lanik - alto saxophone Merlin Mandsager - bass horn Ed Nygard - percussion Ed Pokorny - clarinet Joe Quinn - trombone Ethel Randall - clarinet Mernie Wright - clarinet Betty Yama - clarinet 7 Of the ten girls in the graduating class, eight sang in the Girls Glee Club and nine were in the Home Economics Club. Exactly half the graduating members played an instrument in the Pep Band. Half of the class also got the mumps at some time during a two-month period in the spring of their senior year. In September, 1941, twenty-nine freshmen were initiated by the seniors. We dressed like Christmas trees with tin cans as ornaments. The seniors felt themselves superior and made us bow to them, or else? I?!? In the evening, we were the Stars ?? of the program. The Carnival was a great event for we operated novelty games to raise money for class and school-wide expenses. The Carnival Queen candidate for our class was Frances Henderson. In our Sophomore year, the girls cooked and served the Athletic Banquet. About twenty-five boys were present at the Banquet, which was served in the Home Economics room. Because of the war we felt it would be unpatriotic to have a Carnival. We changed this event into a Victory Night, and sold War Stamps and Bonds for admittance. Victory Belles were chosen by placing the ballot from the Bonds or Stamps bought in the box for the Belle of your choice. Our candidate for this year was Margaret Keller. In our Junior year, the major activities started with Victory Night. Delores Goecks, our candidate for Victory Belle, was crowned at 12:00. The class play, Double Exposure , was presented shortly after Victory Night. In the spring, we planned the Junior-Senior Prom. We carried out the theme of Moonlight and Roses. The tables were arranged in a large V in the center of the hall. For the Prom banquet, the mothers of the Juniors brought food and cooked the meal in the Hot-Lunch-Kitchen in the Community Hall. Some of us Juniors helped prepare the meal and set the tables until it was time to get dressed for the banquet. George Jelinek served as banquet toastmaster, and Chouteau County Superintendent of Schools Margarethe Kleinschmidt attended and spoke to the graduates. The last day of school, the class went to Beaver Creek Park in the Bears Paw Mountains on a picnic. In the evening we attended a show in Havre. Being Seniors, it was our privilege to have the Bingo Booth on Victory Night. We were fortunate to make $97.50 which helped to pay for the curtain for the stage in the gymnasium. This curtain was presented to the school by the classes of 1 944 and 1945. Violet Lanik, our candidate, was crowned Victory Belle. Instead of having a play, we had a Senior Dance. Preceding the dance, there was a Band Concert and a movie, Combat America. The dance was not financially as successful as a play would have been. For our Sneak Day , we went on a trip to Great Falls. While there, we visited Giant Springs, the Mausoleum, the Coca Cola Bottling Works, The Paris Department Store, Radio Station KFBB, The Tribune office, and Gore Air 8 Field. The trip was very educational as many had never visited these places before. The total school enrollment from grades one through twelve was 323 the year we were freshmen. The next year it was 308 and then 318 the following year. By the time we were seniors it had dropped to 301. The high school enrollment also showed a decline from 109 to 95, then 100, and finally 97 during our senior year. The number of graduating seniors decreased dramatically from 31 in 1942 to 21, up to 24, and then down to 16 with our class. The war years when we were in high school caused an unusual turnover in staff members so we had more than the usual number of teachers. The faculty members who served during our high school years and the courses they taught are listed as follows in alphabetical order: Mary Bailey, Social Science Zelda Bilile, English and Library Helen Carlson, Social Science and Phy. Ed. Cecelia Deutschman, Home Economics Orion G. Hegre, Science and Music Charles E. Hood, Superintendent, Science Esther Hood, Vocal Music George Jelinek, Social Science, Vo-Ag, Phy. Ed. Earl Julson, Vo-Ag and Shop Clifford Knapp, Band Fay Machgan, Science Francis Miley, Principal; Mathematics, Vo-Ag, Shop Margaret Muir, Commercial Science and Journalism Lucy Naegeli, Home Economics Alfred Ophus, Mathematics Margaret Hodgskiss Ray, Home Ec. and Phy. Ed. John Schulz, Social Science and Phy. Ed. Robert Schwartz, Science and Boys' Phy. Ed. Alfreda Sigg, Commercial Science and Dramatics Ramona Smith, Home Economics and Girls' Phy. Ed. Amelia Striker, Vocal Music Dale Striker, Social Science Ethel Svennungsen, Vocal Music During the war years, most of us helped gather dry animal bones for fertilizer and scrap metal to remelt to build war machines. We all participated in meatless days and planted Victory gardens. Many new recipes were sugarless, meatless and possibly tasteless! We were all proud to be part of the patriotic community. We heard about blackouts in the cities and opaque window shades were available for that purpose. Miss Bilile had all the English classes write letters to the 9 Service men. We had letters answered and many continued to write even after the war ended. Some of us wrote to more than one. The letters indicated that the service men really appreciated hearing from home. Our high school years were war years. We had war rations and books of stamps to be used when we purchased our allotted amount of sugar, gas, shoes, and other necessities. War bonds were sold at school. Classes competed for who bought the most stamps. Big Sandy had a USO down town for the soldiers who were stationed south of town as part of the practice bombing range. Lunches were served and dancing was part of the evening. One of the most traumatic things that happened was when a B-17 training plane with 8 men crashed east of town. All were killed. Not much was said about it and the area was cordoned off and no civilians were allowed there. It was a very quiet, sad day at school. Some of our classmates who came in to high school from the country lived at the dormitories. These dorms at Big Sandy were among the first to be established in the state in the early 1920's. They took care of about 35 students during each term. They were operated on a cost basis by the school. There were two buildings that housed the boys and girls separately. Mr. Miley, school principal, was in charge of the boys in one building. Mrs. Rose Cushman was the cook and dorm mother in charge of the girls in the main building. In this building was the dining hall, kitchen, matron's quarters, furnace for heating and rooms upstairs for the girls. Two girls shared a small room with 3-4 girls sharing the larger rooms. About 16 girls shared one bathroom!! Sometimes we were allowed to use Mrs. Cushman s bath facilities, too. There were no showers. It took respect, consideration, planning and a sense of humor on everyone's part to make life work at the dorm. Board had to be paid each month plus giving a certain number of ration stamps during the war years. Three meals a day were provided for the students. Students had to take turns with the K.P. work of doing dishes, serving, preparing food and cleaning. Some got a little pay for jobs such as stoking the furnace, cleaning and some other odd jobs. Most students headed for home in the country on Friday after school — returning Sunday evening or early Monday morning. The dorm kids provided a family away from home for each other. They shared a special closeness and many good times together. During our high school years, we started out with twenty-nine. We gained three new students, but graduated with only sixteen! Of those who were with us, twelve served with Uncle Sam. Walter 10 Monson, one of the graduates, received his call for the Army before school was out. One of our former classmates had preceded us to the Great Beyond. Kenneth King, a good student and a good friend was taken while serving his country. Four of the girls in our class married before they finished school. Several of the boys had to quit because of the shortage of help on the farm, and some just didn't like school. In conclusion, members of the Class of 1945 did FINISH TO BEGIN their adult life styles. World War II ended with VE and VJ days. New elementary, high school and sports complexes have been built since we graduated. Rural schools have closed and children are now bused to school in town. Our children are now graduates of BSHS. Many changes have occurred in these 50 years. This history is but a moment in the flow of eternity. --Muriel Lund Silvan --Erma Buchholz Reichelt --Violet Lanik Drga HIGH SCHOOL BAND When we were in the sixth grade and Miss Erfle was our teacher, many of us were selected by Mr. Clarence F. Boess, to take part in a pilot program in instrumental music. This ambitious program would eventually lead us into the high school band program. Our band had grown and flourished since band director Oren Henning had wielded the baton. The Big Sandy High School Band had gained an enviable reputation, statewide, and all incoming members of the band were aware of the responsibilities they assumed when joining the band. It is difficult to recall exactly how often we received instructions during the week. In 1938 the sixth graders began practicing with the goal of performing as a member of the High School Band. Mid-year found all those who took part in the pilot program placed in the band. Most of us were totally unaware of the up-coming appearances and were tremendously excited and thrilled just to perform with the high school students. SHOW BOY and FOOTLIFTER were the first two marches we were to master before our first rehearsal with the full band. That was a glorious moment in our young lives. WHAT A SOUND...WOW! . That first rehearsal left most of us with a sense of wonderment and dedication to go home and practice, for however long it may take, to be able to sound as many musical spots as possible. Remember AMERICAN PATROL, 1812 OVERTURE, MORNING NOON AND NIGHT, STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER, GOD BLESS AMERICA, DREAM CASTLES, 1 1 PAVANNE and LOHENGRIN? There were many other wonderful selections along with those mentioned here. However, these stood out as works which demanded a great deal of time and concentration, ultimately receiving great appreciation from our faithful concert audiences. Incidentally, the audience was not all parents. As one recalls, many of our citizens who normally didn't attend school functions came to hear us perform and show their interest and appreciation. Our audiences were overwhelming and continued to make us all proud of our accomplishments over the years. Our drum major was Nora Berg, a senior who played baritone in the band. We practiced marching on the street and on the football field. Many sessions with drums only while rank members carried 2x4's behind the small of their backs. This, we thought was all part of preparing for the Havre Music Festival in May. Why are we forming this huge airplane, complete with low brass engine sounds? Little did we know that we were to perform for the King and Queen of England and an enthusiastic Canadian audience inside a covered stadium in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. The year was 1939. The Royal couple was obviously impressed with this 54 piece concert and marching band from the colonies . How proud we were when they stopped in front of the band and met and visited a few minutes with Mr. Boess and Nora. This moment is vividly recalled by each and every one of us that had the good fortune to be in that band. Remember playing POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE as the King and Queen stepped from that beautiful blue, gold, and whatever other color locomotives are? They walked so stately, and on that royal blue carpet....not red, but blue. The driving force behind our Canadian tour was our Superintendent, Mr. Elmer Skeie (Shay). He also was responsible for our performances for the Montana State Legislature and Carroll College in Helena. Gordon Lippard, from Fort Benton, was our representative in the legislature at the time and it was his great honor to introduce the Big Sandy High School Band to the other lawmakers of the state. We were given very little space in which to perform, but we managed and actually were able to hear other instrumental parts more distinctly. The Havre Music Festival was always a very special occasion. An opportunity to hear many other bands and, yes, make comparisons. May generally afforded good weather where sun glasses and sun burns were included as part of the uniform of the day. The final massed bands concert was presented by all participating bands. This was much fun but not really musically sound. As a matter of fact, many students took this occasion to play their parts up one or two octaves, consequently drawing daggers from guest conductors. SWEET SIXTEEN was the name of the march book that bands were supposed to be prepared to perform. Needless to say, many (from other schools) saw this music for the first time....THEN AND THERE. We had prepared! 12 During the school year of 1939-40, we began working on solos and small ensembles and were excited when told that if we could memorize our music, we could enter the State Music Festival in Missoula. Mr. Boess drove his new blue Ford with five aspiring musicians crowded into front and back seats, hardly leaving enough room for our director driver. To this day, it is difficult to fathom where we stowed our instruments, let alone an over-night bag and toothbrush. The trombone quartet, consisting of Willis Welty, Ruth Hansen, Joe Quinn, and Dean Courtnage, performed. Joe Quinn played SOUL OF THE SURF (trombone solo) and Bob Green performed the trumpet solo, CARNIVAL OF VENICE. We were eighth-graders at the time. One of our adjudicators was the band director of the Montana State College Bozeman Bobcat Band, Mr. Edmond Sedivy. We were so proud with the results and our ratings of SUPERIOR. Imagine, SUPERIOR ratings in competition with high school students. Is it any wonder why we seized every opportunity to go down to the band room and practice? We were allowed the opportunity to sign out of study hall and to go practice, even if the instructor was not present. It comes to mind now that there would be very little chance of any teacher being able to hear our musical efforts any place in the main building. This suggests a genuine trust teachers had for those of us who were aspiring to become proficient musicians. It was common to get to school before first period and practice for an hour, then commence again during study hall and practice during the regularly scheduled band period. Then, if basketball or other sports were not demanding our time, some returned to practice after school. Many evenings during the week, regular evening rehearsals allowed us another two hour stint. Thus, it was possible to average from four to six hours of practice every day of the school week. This was much of our entertainment.... and we loved iti Until some form of music enters our lives, some way, we cannot hope to claim full understanding of the peace and happiness that can be attained by mankind. --Robert L. Green JUNIOR-SENIOR PROM 1944 May 13, 1944 was the date we, as Juniors, gave the annual prom in honor of the Class of 1944 . At 6:30 a banquet was served by the Sophomore girls which had been prepared by some of the Juniors' mothers and aided by Mrs. Bertha Smith. The girls serving wore white blouses and dark skirts. The tables were arranged in a V-shape and decorated with roses which were later given to the Juniors and Seniors to wear as corsages and hair 1 3 decorations. Speakers were Mrs. Kleinschmidt, Mr. Hood, Mr. Miley, Margaret Stremcha, Edward Pokorny, Josephine Henderson, Violet Lanik, and Toastmaster George Jelinek. Blue and white streamers curved around the stage and were hung with silver stars forming an effective background for the Tophatters, the orchestra of the evening. The Tophatters played the Grand March song which was Anchors Aweigh, for the march at 9:00 that was led by Robert Green and Margaret Stremcha. A flag was on display in the center of the floor and the focal point for the spotlight which was mounted in the left balcony. The dances were held under this spotlight and made the theme Moonlight and Roses more realistic. The dance tickets were red, white, and pink paper roses that had been made by the girls of the Junior Class. Josephine Henderson and Deane Courtnage were crowned at midnight, the Queen and King, of the Prom, by Patricia Machgan. Following the coronation, there was a half-hour intermission after which the dancing continued until 2:00. BLAZED TRAILS 1945 SPORTS During the school year of 1944-45, Big Sandy has realized glorious achievements in Athletics. Under superb coaching and management, the Big Sandy Pioneers emerged victoriously with titles in both major sports. Now, as the school year nears completion, we look back with much pride and satisfaction in having two district championship teams in one year. The football squad showed much spirit and drive once it was developed and roamed at will over its opponents. Only in the final game of the season were the Pioneers defeated. They won the Judith Basin district championship from Geyser by an overwhelming score of 42-6. During the season the Big Sandy squad drove roughshod across the turf to defeat such gridiron foes as Geraldine, Harlem, Turner, Geyser, and St. Mary's. The prospects for next year's team are good, for, fortunately, only one member of the squad is graduating. The basketball season was equally successful. Out of the enormous number of 32 games played this season, the local quint turned in 27 wins. In the final stages of the season, the team played in four tournaments. The Pioneers won their district championship in basketball by defeating Rudyard, Chester and Chinook at the district tournament in Chinook. Also the squad 1 4 made an excellent showing in the regional tournament at Great Falls. During the season the local lads defeated such formidable hoopsters as Fort Benton, Kremlin, Chinook, St. Paul's Mission, Shelby, and Chester. According to survey made by R. W. Sandven, director of athletics. Northern Montana State College, Big Sandy ranked fifth among the class B teams of the State. Two seniors graduate from the team this spring. The Senior class takes with it three lettermen this spring. As a junior, Ed Pokorny played center on the football squad, Joe Quinn played left end on the football squad, and guard on the basketball team. Robert Green played forward on the basketball team. BLAZED TRAILS 1945 —Joe Quinn SNEAK DAY On April 24, 1945 our Senior Sneak Day began at five o'clock, a dark five o'clock, with three cars full. We circled the town umpteen times to insure that everyone knew we were leaving if only for a day. About 7:30 we arrived in Fort Benton to pick up Margaret Bakke. But Maggie just couldn't go. It was a case of mumps. So on to Great Falls while we munched bananas. The boys had provided 19 3 4 pounds of bananas for snacks. By nine o'clock we were in Great Falls and held a consultation in front of the Mandarin Cafe in the rain. Everyone was wishing for an umbrella or raincoat, and everyone was hungry. Since Hank's Kitchenette was just across the street, we dashed over and ate breakfast. After satisfying the inner man, we were ready for Giant Springs--even in the rain. Upon arrival we stared the fishes in the eye and felt sorry for them, but sorrier for ourselves because it was so cold. There were no chances for a photo at Giant Springs. We were really all in the mood for our next stop, the W. H. George funeral parlors. A man ushered us into a soft carpeted room. Voices dropped, giggles disappeared, and we tiptoed after our guide into a room where an old gentleman lay peacefully sleeping. We also went down into the lower floor and reviewed the different kinds of coffins. One number was a hand carved walnut imported from China. From the funeral parlor we went to the mausoleum and crematory where we had just missed a funeral. The attendant explained the different kinds of marble used in the inside of the building, the different kinds of urns for cremated remains, and the desirable factors in this type of burial. Several of the girls expressed their desire to be buried in the couch crypts in Montana marble. After we had visited here all we wanted, we felt in need of a drink--so we visited the Coca Cola Bottling 1 5 Works and got a free handout. We were quite fascinated by the working of the machine, but it would take too long to explain why the thingamabob hops up and down when the whatchmacallit hits, and then the dojigger returns to its original position. Really much too complicated! Each person got a pencil and a ruler with Coca Cola advertisement on them, but some got two pencils. How come? We also visited the Cowboy's Museum, but it was closed so we didn't go in. The Paris was next. We all felt important when we had the reserved dining room to ourselves and an assigned waitress. Everyone had roast turkey and dressing for the main course, (on meatless Tuesday) but desserts differed. We had a choice of chocolate cake, butterscotch chiffon pie or sherbet. After this satisfying meal, the girls roamed through the store or rode up and down the elevator just for the ride of it; (except Blanche Riley, who just couldn't ride because it upset her stomach.) The boys departed for parts unknown. At 1:00 a man took us on a tour of the Paris. We saw the fitting rooms, kitchen, ready-to-wear department, shipping and receiving departments, office, how the elevators work, and the window display workshop. Then our guide treated us to an orange drink. When we came out of the Paris, the rain had stopped. By 2:30 we were ready to visit KFBB and the boys were in fine style and practice with their pea-shooters. Their deadly aim brought amazed looks and cries of anguish from unsuspecting passers-by that got caught in the fire. In the station they were persuaded to pocket these lethal (?) war weapons. LeRoy Stahl explained some of the things that we could understand, then we remained in the studio while Roscoe Kearnen played the Hammond Organ for his regular program. While he was on the air, scarcely a noise was made. Some did not resume normal breathing until it was over. Mr. Hood had joined us here at the station and thanked Mr. Stahl and Mr. Kearnen for their kindness in telling us about the station and the organ, respectively. The Tribune Office was next. We experienced no little difficulty with the revolving door. In fact, Bobbie Green went around five times before Eddie Pokorny had the presence of mind to yank him out. The Great Falls Leader was being run off in the press room. We all craned our necks to watch the process. The man in charge explained the number of rolls of paper and the drums of ink used in a year. While in the building, we visited the Newspaper morgue which is the place where clippings are sorted and filed and kept for references. It is in this file that the Tribune has information and pictures, if obtainable, of all the important people in the world. The attendant dragged out a few items about Big Sandy for our 16 inspection. The reporting rooms and the ticker tape were also looked at and discussed. Then we started for Gore Field munching on the afore-mentioned bananas. We were stopped at the inspection house and were given little cards with Gore Field Visitor written on them. We proceeded to the Administration Building and gained admittance to the control tower and had a freckled faced, red haired guide assigned to us who was quite smitten by our fair young teacher. From this tower we could see the traffic on the run-ways and could listen to the directions given to the pilot upon take-off or landing. A phonograph disc is made of these directions. From here we went out on the windy ramp and looked at some of the pickled planes there. One was a B-17 that had been on 64 missions and still flew home. These planes were patched up and covered up. The wind did drastic things to all the hair-dos' that the rain had left. The Link Trainer Building was our next stop. Here we watched one of the pilots flying blind . Eddie Pokorny was allowed to sit in one of these trainers and try out the controls. For our supper, each person was allowed to go where he wished. Some went to the Club Cafeteria, Hank's Kitchenette or the Mandarin Cafe (for chop suey). After rushing through this meal, we dashed down to the Civic Center to see the show, Where Are Your Children? . One movie was not enough so we also went to see Barbary Coast . Then, would you believe it, we were hungry againi So Hank's Kitchenette received our patronage for coffee and cake for the third time that day. By 11:00 we were on our way home because the last of the bananas had run out, along with our energy. BLAZED TRAILS 1945 —Mernie Wright PROPHECY Hello there! Remember the Class of 1945? There were seventeen of us that spring, and all expecting to graduate. But that was all ten years ago, and time marches on and we have somewhat lost touch of each other. So now I, MERNIE WRIGHT, am off on a trip to assemble a report for my boss, the President of the World Council in charge of traffic on Mars, with branch offices all over the world. The starting point is San Francisco. While waiting for my plane to warm up, I outlined my plan of flight. One of my fellow waiters (not Hashers ) kept watching me as though she recognized me. When our eyes finally met, I saw that it was MARGARET BAKKE. She explained that she was usually in charge of an excursion by air from San Francisco to Lisbon, Portugal via Peking, but that she was now on vacation and was waiting for her plane so 1 7 as to make that tour in reverse or rather San Francisco to Peking via Lisbon, Portugal for the novelty of it. It was really all quite confusing. (Before I really get started, may I say that if there is any similarity between this and a regular airline flight, it is purely coincidental.) Maggie and I discussed old times for awhile and then she mentioned that MURIEL LUND was teaching in Alaska. So to Alaska I went in my little private plane, to see what Muriel had to say. Muriel said that she had just finished teaching the Eskimos a new form of Pig-latin. This next semester her pupils are going to rewrite the English language and revise Webster's Dictionary. So off again. The next stop, Big Sandy, to revisit the place of our secondary learning. There to my great surprise was BOBBIE GREEN. Bobbie had decided on a musical career upon graduation, but life was too sharp . Bob became flat broke and returned back to Big Sandy to measure time selling toothpaste in an accordion -pleated tube. Bob mentioned that he heard CLINTON HAGEN was in Denver. So, on to Denver, where Clem has at last claimed fame for that voice of his. Listen every Friday evening to hear Clem on his Wild Western Dramatization of Cowboy Stories doing the woeful ballads. His forlorn renditions bring tears to your eyes. While in the neighborhood, I dropped over to see EDDIE NYGARD at New Orleans. Eddie has a fleet of motor boats on the Mississippi River. Once a month he stages a race in which several of the more enthusiastic population participate. Nothing exciting, other than a few wrecks, ever happen, so Eddie plans for a race across the Pacific Ocean. Oh, by the way, I hear Eddie had quite a time at the Mardi gras last season. Odd, isn't it, what bits of information one can pick up while traveling around? LEONA SANFORD I located in Dayton, Ohio. She is running a hamburger stand with Barnum Bailey's Circus in the day time, (her hamburger a la Leona is famous) and is the tight-rope walker in the evening show. Leona had had a card from BLANCHE, or rather Sergeant, Riley. It seems that Blanche had joined the WACs upon graduation and was doing drill work in a WAC center in Memphis. After visiting with Blanche awhile, I could still hear her hup-2-3-4 as I took off for Miami. Miami is one of the resorts that MARGARET COLE calls home for a few days while vacationing. Maggie married a titled multi- millionaire Englishman and was trying to make up her mind about a new spring outfit when I arrived. After going through all the dress shops she settled on one made of lacquered spider webs, sequins, and ostrich feathers, and gold lam ?. Lady 18 Margaret sets the pace for the well-dressed women of America and England. After Miami, it was Washington, D.C., to chat a few minutes with Congresswoman MARDELLA REICHELT, the Republican representative, about her new plan to put Big Sandy on the map. At the present time she is trying to introduce a bill to establish a carrier pigeon base at Big Sandy. Of course this measure is causing a great deal of debate. From Washington it was merely a few minutes to New York to see VIOLET LANIK and ERMA MAE BUCHHOLZ. These two girls share an apartment. Erma is a dietitian in the Astor Hotel, and recently discovered a secret formula to keep the scum off cocoa. She expects to retire soon on the profit derived from this discovery and travel in Europe. Violet has a radio program of her own on which she gives fashion notes and radiates all of her personality over the air. Her programs are later translated and sent into seven different countries, so Erma will not be lonely while journeying around except Erma cannot understand any other language. Now I leave the U.S.A. and journey to Africa, the Darkland. I landed in Egypt and proceeded to Cairo where I found ETHEL RANDALL swimming in the Nile. Ethel is a roving reporter and brings news of the African animals to all the children of America. She recently wrote a book called Rambling Randy. She was trying out an experiment to see what kind of animals she could attract. The only one I saw was a wolf in an Egyptian soldier's uniform, (a regular wolf in sheik's clothing!) While in Africa, I flew down to Leopoldsville where WALTER MONSON is a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the Dinosaur Division. His dinosaurs are used to carry troops into the jungles. These dinosaurs are quite the modern discovery. Australia was a stop to visit DELORES GOECKS. Delores married the old boy-friend and is helping run their fur farm. They have started crossing chinchillas with kangaroos to make fur coats with pockets. Quite a successful little business venture. Ah, and now back home again. I ran over to Hollywood to see EDDIE POKORNY, the modern Clark Gable complete with mustache (sure its dyed, but don't tell anybody.) Eddie is starring in a picture named Elegant Eddie in which he's up to all of his tricks of making with the eyes and complimenting all the slick chicks . For relaxation, I rode over to Long Beach for a swim in the ocean. And there was JOE QUINN, a lifeguard. Every two hours he parades down the sands to show off that magnificent walk and swagger of his. A few days prior to meeting him, I had 19 read in the newspapers of his saving a Pekinese puppy of Lana Turner's. Quite the hero. As for me, this tour was almost too much. I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I think I'll settle down in the Rockies and raise flowers in a rock garden. BLAZED TRAILS 1945 --Mernie Wright LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT We, The Senior Class of the Big Sandy High School, of the city of Big Sandy, county of Chouteau, and state of Montana, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish, and declare this to be our last will and testament, hereby revoking any will or wills heretofore made by us. FIRST: We direct that all our just debts and graduation expenses be fully paid and satisfied, as soon as convenient. SECOND: We give, devise, and bequeath unto the Juniors our sneak day. ( For Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall , as it did on our sneak day). THIRD: We give, devise, and bequeath unto the Sophomores --nothing as we haven't anything they would be interested in (or have we?) FOURTH: To the Freshmen we leave the remembrance of initiation to help them when they have reached the glorious realms of seniorism. FIFTH: To Erwin, our janitor, we leave the memory of our smiling faces--and devilish pranks. SIXTH: To the school we leave the memory of our bobby socks, page-boy bobs, and the traditional cars, cords, ? , ?,. Also our ability to concentrate on all the things we shouldn't and the unused portion of our intelligence (which is plenty). If you don't want it, save it, because we may want it back some day. SEVENTH: To the faculty we leave our procrastination, prevarication, and pernicious perseverance for our assignments. They will be in safe-keeping so the other students will have to use their ingenuity to find new methods of evasion. We each individually would also like our say. 20 EIGHTH: I, Erma Mae Buchholz, bequeath my chewing gum wrappers to Patty Williams and Donna Reichelt. These, combined with the ones they already have, will keep the school house warm for a couple of days at least. I, Margaret Cole, leave my gift of gab to Frances Petr even if it gets her in hot water at times. I, Robert Green, bequeath my forwardness to Fritz Osterman, hoping he will make as good use of it as I did and wishing him the best of luck. I, Joe Quinn, leave my arguing ability and ingenuity for telling tall tales to Tom Sevcik. I, Muriel Lund, will my brown eyes and dark hair to Beatrice Buchholz so her teachers can distinguish her from Bernice. I, Walter Monson, will my physique to Kenny Darlington. He may fall in love with a tall girl. I, Edward Pokorny, leave my faithful Ford to Harold Sherbeck. It at least beats sprinting to keep from being tardy. If Clinton Hagen, leave my manly voice to Alan Lohse hoping he will use it to a good extent. If Delores Goecks, bequeath my dimples to Ruby Flanery if they don't bring her any more attention than they brought me. I, Edward Nygard, will my ability to be on time to Dora Goecks. It makes life more exciting. I, Leona Sanford, give my ability to stay out of the detention room to Joyce Chauvet. She may need the time for something else. I, Mernie Wright, will my ability to eat and asking When do we eat? to all the other slender (!) people with an appetite. I, Mardella Reichelt, bequeath my ability to ride that bucking bus to the rest of its victims. I, Blanche Riley, leave all the answers to my curious questioners. I, Violet Lanik, leave my bright and happy smile to anyone who can use it as effectively as I can. If Margaret Bakke, will my soft singing voice to Frances Eve. Take are of it, there might be a shortage of baskets. 21 In Witness Whereof, We the Undersigned, the testators, have set our hands and seals hereto this fifteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty rive (1945). BLAZED TRAILS 1945 —Violet Lanik June 30, 1945 Due to the nation-wide teacher shortage, it was necessary to call upon a number of local persons to fill vacancies. These individuals responded generously, and helped keep student and teacher morale at a high level throughout the school term. Evidence of a high teacher morale last year and prediction for another successful school term next year, is seen in the fact that only one high school teacher, and one grade school teacher resigned at the end of the school term. In many schools teacher turnover has been a most serious problem. The 1944-45 school term just completed was-at the same time- one of the most successful and one of the most difficult to be experienced at Big Sandy for many years. The difficulties may have been due, at least in part, to the tremendous history- making events which transpired simultaneously and which were bound to effect, to a more or less greater degree, the students on the home front. From D -day, followed by the long casualty lists; and the sudden death of President Roosevelt; to V-E -day and the San Francisco World Security Conference, earth-shaking news flashes seemed to follow one after another. In our small way at Big Sandy, we kept at our job, attempting to turn out good citizens for the world of the future, hoping that this new world would be a better place in which to live. --Chas. E. Hood, Superintendent EPILOGUE Consider the changes we have witnessed: We were born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, contact lenses, Frisbees and the PILL. We were born before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and bail-point pens; before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes 22 dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes --and before man walked on the moon. We got married first and then lived together. How quaint can you be? In our time, closets were for clothes, not for coming out of . Bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Designer jeans were scheming girls named Jean or Jeanne, and having a meaningful relationship meant getting along well with our cousins. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent, and Outer Space was the back row of the Riviera Theatre. We were before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers and commuter marriages. We were before day-care centers, group therapy and nursing homes. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. For us, time-sharing meant togetherness--not computers or condominiums. A chip meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hardware, and software wasn't even a word! In 1940, Made in Japan meant junk and the term making out referred to how you did on your exam. Pizzas, McDonald's and instant coffee were unheard of. We hit the scene when there were 5 and 104: stores, where you bought things for five and ten cents. Sanders or Wilsons sold ice cream cones for a nickel or a dime. For one nickel, you could ride a street car, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600.00 but who could afford one; a pity too, because gas was 11$ a gallon! In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable, grass was mowed, coke was a cold drink and pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was a grandma's lullaby and AIDS were helpers in the Principal's office. We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was discovered but we were surely before the sex change; we made do with what we had. And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby! No wonder we are so confused and there is such a generation gap today! BUT WE SURVIVED!! --Anonymous 23 MILITARY Private Kenneth J. King, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl King of Big Sandy, was killed in action December 3, 1944, in Germany. He entered the U.S. Army August 5, 1943, and received his basic training at Camp Barkeley and Camp Swift, Texas. In September, 1944, he was sent overseas with a medical detachment and was stationed in France for a time, Ister being sent to Germany. The War Department presented the Purple Heart to his parents and notified them that their son was buried in Holland. THE HIGHEST DEMOCRACY FOR THEY HAVE FINISHED TO BEGIN AND GREATER THINGS THEY DO- WHO COME SO FAR TO DIE SO YOUNG AND LIVE AGAIN IN YOU. --Dr. Daniel A. Poling KENNETH J. KING 24 MILITARY ROLL CALL Gerald Berlinger Deceased U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class Ted Erikson U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert L. Green U.S. Marine Corp Sergeant Clinton I. Hagen U.S. Army Private 1st Class Kenneth J. King Killed in Action U.S. Army Private Paul R. LaBuda Deceased U.S. Army Walter J. Monson U.S. Army Private 1st Class Edward L. Nygard U.S. Army Sergeant 1st Class Laurence R. Ophus U.S. Army Private 1st Class Myron H. Ophus U.S. Marine Corp 1st Sergeant Edward E. Pokorny Deceased U.S. Army Joe M. Quinn U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class 25 BIOGRAPHY Student - Farmer - Trainer - Teacher - Military Range Conservationist - Homemaker - Clerk - Mother Businessman - Secretary - Rancher - Music Arranger Forester - Construction - Salesman - Publisher Practical Nurse - Music Composer - Census Taker Supervisor - Technician - School Bus Operator Bookkeeper - Appraiser - Welder - Hobbies - Writer Chemist - Aide - Foreman - Executive - Waitress Music Director - Housewife - Dental Assistant Mechanic - Researcher - Van Driver - Firefighter Reindeer Husbandry - Ferry Boat Skipper - Fireman Business Partner - Range Management - Storekeeper Retirement - Manager - Repair Shop Owner - Officer Professor - Memberships - Wildlife Management THINK THAT DAY LOST WHOSE LOW DESCENDING SUN VIEWS FROM THY HAND NO NOBLE ACTION DONE. --Jacob Bobart 26 MARGARET BAKKE JORDAN Sunnydale Lane, Box 280 Penryn, CA 95663 (916) 663-2241 ADDRESS LATER 1995: 113 North 30th, Great Falls, MT 59401 I worked in Great Falls at both Gore Hill , now Metro and East Base , now Malstrom Air Force Base. I married Charles G. Jordan from Belgrade, Montana, at the Methodist Church in Great Falls on June 8, 1946. We took an extensive seven-state honeymoon. On this Moon walk, a darn rattlesnake crossed our path and hesitated long enough to strike Charles! The snake never lived to tell about it, but it sure put the finishing touches on a beautiful honeymoon. That fall, we and thousands of others were on the college campus at Bozeman, Montana. A year later I was pushing a baby buggy. Inside was Joyce Louise. Dad was deep in studies under the GI Bill . We bought a home in rural Belgrade and commuted 20 miles to college. By 1949 college was in our past and we had an electrical contractor’s business in Belgrade and another little girl, Jeanette Lucille in that baby buggy. Charles wired a great part of the Gallatin Canyon; which was just getting Montana Power. Then Uncle Sam got into the act and we found ourselves back at Malstrom Air Force Base in uniform, again. Three years in Great Falls and a little son, Charles Martin, arrived. By now Korea was in the foreground and when duty calls , Dad left P.C.S. for Korea for one year. The three tots and I stayed in Great Falls. It was near Big Sandy and convenient to the base for medical. Besides, I loved Great Falls. (Just wait till the last chapter)!!! When Charles returned from Korea, we were assigned to McChord Air Force Base for the next eight years. assignment in 1960 was Lajes Air Force Base 27 Our next on the Island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal (mid-Atlantic). This was probably the biggest thrill period of my life. A tropical island 7 x10 miles complete with maid service and a ceramic shop! The Air Force mission there is refueling and maintenance of aircraft; plus some excellent USO entertainment en route to Europe from D.C. Our tour was for 3 years and, mid-tour, we toured Europe. We chose the Scandinavian countries. Oslo and Bergen, Norway are my ancestorial ties. England is Charles'; plus some forget- me-nots from WWII. Our return to the U.S.A. placed us in Turner Air Force Base, Albany, Georgia. Truly Southern living and a very different view point of the Civil War for our children to re-learn. Throughout these periods and locations, I kept busy at the chapel activities. I've always sung in choirs. I belonged to the Officers' Wives Clubs, Cub and Weblo Scouts and Girl Scouts. United Methodist Church, taught Sunday school and all those Mom things - yes! pre-school and P.T.A. too. In these later years, one presses on to Quilter's Club, knitting and crocheting. I worked for a few years as an Assistant Director in pre-school and took some college classes to be qualified. While in Georgia, we were zeroed in on by Cuba Bay of Pigs .... an exciting time! This also is the period when the Martin Luther King, Jr. marches were in process and President Kennedy was assassinated. Charles was assigned over seas again to Southeast Asia June, 1965 and the children and I returned to our old home in Spanaway, Washington near McChord. By now, Joyce had graduated and was working, Jean was in her last year of high school and Chuck, Jr. in junior high. Home without Dad is hard, but it teaches some very valuable lessons too. Decision making, money management, appreciation, and you fall in love with that old mail box!! We turned our faithful tape recorder on at super time and rehashed the day's events to mail off to Dad, arguments and all! Our retirement assignment came at last. Weather Reconnaissance, McClellan Air Force Base at Sacramento, California. By now, Joyce was a stewardess, Jean was in college at Wenatchee, Washington and Chuck in high school. Charles retired from McClellan A.F.B. Sacramento in July 1969 after 28 years of military life and I miss it! All three children were married by now and grandchildren had started to arrive. 28 We purchased land about 20 miles east of Sacramento and built our retirement home. Joyce and Don Thompson have four children and live in Bremerton, Washington. Jean and Rick Kurtz have two children and live in Bonsall, California. Chuck and Linda Jordan have three children and live in Orangevale, California. December 19, 1990, Charles and I were headed for Bonsall via 1-99 when we stopped at a traffic light at a notorious intersection called the Livingston Light near Merced, California. The big rig behind us didn't! Thank God we were in a heavy vehicle (Chevy Suburban) or we'd be history. Results -the first seven vertebrae of my spine are fused. We have purchased property in Great Falls and plan to build there when our California home sells. I shall miss our variety of fruit and nut trees and flowers and warm, sunny weather. I’m not sure how the Montana weather and my broken back will fare, but we have an R.V. so will probably go south when the temperature drops and the snow birds take flight. LOUIS F. BEELER Box 639 Big Sandy, MT 59520 (406) 378-2114 As my high school education in Big Sandy had been sporadic due to helping my folks on the farm, I had decided to bag getting involved in class history and class reunion for the 50th anniversary of the class of '45. A personal call from Joe Quinn, who I believe could sell most anything to anybody, encouraged me to write this little background of my history of the past 68 years. Born in Yakima, Washington I moved with my parents to Hoquiam and Aberdeen, Washington at an early age. My next move was to Seattle where I attended the Longfellow grade school. Graduating from there in 1939 we then moved to my grandfather's farm 26 miles south east of Big Sandy. This move was due to a tractor accident which resulted in my grandfather's death. Misinformation from the Iliad school teacher telling my parents that my State of Washington diploma was invalid in Montana caused me to take the 8th grade over at Iliad. I then had two 8th grade diplomas. Starting high school in Big Sandy with the class of '44 and going two years I believe, I then dropped out to help on the 29 farm. I then came back to school and joined the class of '45. I again dropped out my junior year to help on the farm due to my father's health, never to return to finish my high school education. In 1945 I married Ann M. Fisher of the Iliad community. Not only will I be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the class of '45, but Ann and I will also be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. Ann and I have four children: Gary, Ron, Wayne and Luanne. To these marriages add twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. My wife and I have retired from farming but still own the farm which has been leased out to a nephew. Happy 50th to the class of '45 from Louis and Ann Beeler. LOUIS V. BEIRWAGEN HCR 67 Box 41 Loma, MT 59460 (406) 378-3125 I was born on the farm where my father homesteaded and still live there. For my first three years of school I attended the Ray school on the prairie, eighteen miles west of Big Sandy. Then I went to school in Big Sandy with the class of '45 from fourth grade through ninth grade, and dropped out the following year to help on the farm when my brother Art went to the Army. I never returned as later served on the Big Sandy school board for I met June Zanto from Highwood, when she came to Big Sandy to teach Home Economics in 1952, and we were married in 1953. We have three daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren. Our son is now managing our farms and is the third generation on the home place. A daughter and her husband have recently moved out to join him. Our oldest daughter and her family live in Portland, North Dakota and our youngest daughter and her family live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I I feel fortunate to have been involved in the occupation of farming all my life which I enjoyed and it has been good to me. I am now semi retired. a student, but nine years. 30 ERMA BUCHHOLZ REICHELT Box 516 Big Sandy, MT 59520 (406) 378-2237 My first eight years of school was at the Prairie City country school, which was located only four miles from our farm that I grew up on. During my high school years, I lived in Big Sandy in a small house my parents owned. We only stayed there during the school year and then back to the farm for the summers. In the fall of 1945, I married Donald Reichelt, who had just been discharged from the Army after 3 years. We bought a farm about nine miles west of Big Sandy. He is now semi-retired from farming. We have seven children. Our oldest son, Russell, is now living in Yuma, Arizona, with his wife, Elaine, and three children. He is a civil engineer working for the Federal government. Les, our second son, is living in Glendive, Montana, with his wife, Lisa, and three children and is a Biology teacher at the Dawson Community College. Verlin, our third son, is currently living in Big Sandy with his wife, Patty, and he farms west of Big Sandy. Lenore, our daughter, is living in Big Sandy with her husband, Earl, and three children. She works for Big Sandy Activities and manages two group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. Our next two children were twins. Curt and Corinne. Corinne is living in Frederick, Maryland, and is an accountant for Bionetics. Curt is living with his wife, Janice, and four children in Whitewater, Montana. He manages the Farmer's Union. Our youngest son, John, and his girlfriend, Mary, are living in Billings and he is a hairstylist. He owns his own salon, Park Place. When my son, John, started first grade in 1963, I decided it was time for me to experience something besides taking care of kids. I started working at the Sande Convalescent Home as an aide. Over the next four years, I was able to get licensed as a Licensed Practical Nurse and have continued working for Sande1 s over the past thirty years. I have gone from full-time to part-time and now just work occasionally there. I am now working for Big Sandy Activities as a LPN. I I belong to V.F.W. Auxiliary, Homemakers Club, Sr. Citizens and our local W.C.G. ladies group of the Church of God. I enjoy flower arranging, collecting cookbooks, ceramics, and reading. I also enjoy going on tour bus trips that the local travel agency sponsors. 31 Over the past several years, my husband and I have visited Arizona several times to visit our son, Washington D.C. to visit our daughter and Richland, Washington, to visit my sisters. Several years ago as a Christmas gift, our children gave us a trip to Hawaii. My three sisters and their husbands also went on the trip. We have also been to Colorado Springs. Colorado; Spokane, Washington; and St. Louis, Missouri to attend my husband's Army reunions. I am looking forward to seeing all my classmates on our 50th year class reunion. This is also a special year for me, since I will be celebrating my golden wedding anniversary. Born Ted 17, 1928 Erikson (exactly Wally...conceptions celebrations), my 1934 to Fred Kluck stead ranch about Big Sandy. I was grammar school in Sandy BSHS to in Chicago on February 7 years after my brother were Ma' s birthday mother's marriage in carried us to his home- 40 miles southeast of graduated from Eskay 1941 and attended Big was graduated from Chicago), transferring where I was graduated in attended Northern Montana before enlisting in the U.S Service). High School for one semester (Wally in 1938 and already had left for South Shore High School in Chicago 1945. Returning College in Havre Navy in 1946 for to Big Sandy, I for one semester 2 years (Submarine TED ERIKSON 1226 E. Madison Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60615-2915 (312) 538-4454 From my marriage to Loretta Moss in 1949, daughter Pam Ellen was born in 1950 (now living in Burke, Virginia with husband Captain Kevin Perkins and their children, Kelly and Sean) and son Jon Allen was born in 1954 (now living in Boca Raton, Florida with wife Debby and son Blake). I pursued my education at the Illinois Institute of Technology earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1952 and a Master of Science Degree in Chemistry in 1959. From 1952-1974, I was employed at the IIT Research Institute where I worked to a position of Senior Chemist doing rocket fuels research. A dozen technical publications and three patents highlight my work. In 1974, I transferred to teaching chemistry, physics, and mathematics as a tenured teacher in the School City of Hammond, Indiana. After early retirement in 1989, I continue occasional substitute teaching in Chicago Public Schools...quite an experience! 32 Since 1960, my avocation has been marathon swimming. Most notable is my English Channel double crossing record held from 1965 to 1975, when it was broken by my son. To the total of 17 crossings by me, my son, and three other proteges, another by my dog Umbra is being considered. Random Montana memories: four-mile rides to school on my pigeon-toed horse, Peewee; freezing my tongue onto a horse's bit; horse Billy standing on my foot; mining coal in badlands; opening closing barbed wire gates; secret cache of petrified wood; setting pins in Pep's bowling alley; McNamara and Marlow's Big Store ; Carssow's parlor across from movie theater; combine assembly work at Pratt England; setting George Miner's truck afire; combining at Harry Kings; fight with Myron Ophus; and being operated on during freshman initiation at Big Sandy High School. ROBERT L. GREEN 1349 Avenida Colina San Dimas, CA 91773 Upon graduation from high school, I joined Tom Sanford and went, by train, to Helena with the intent and purpose of joining the Navy. I was especially interested in the V-12 program and wanted to fly. Color blindness prohibited me from wearing navy blues. Returning home, I was encouraged by my folks to pursue a college education. After several meetings with Mr. Charles Hood (our Superintendent), we decided upon the University of Southern California. I received my Bachelor of Music Education Degree at U.S.C. and accepted a Graduate Assistantship at the University of Montana. I particularly enjoyed arranging for and accompanying the well- known Jubileer Singers, under the direction of Norm Gulbranson. From the University of Montana, I taught both instrumental and choral music in Browning, Montana. It wasn't too long before the extreme winter weather found me seeking warmer climes and accepted a teaching position in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two months on the job and Uncle Sam sent a letter requesting my immediate participation. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and upon graduation from boot camp, I received a meritorious promotion to P.F.C. and after Advanced Combat Training, I was assigned to the Third Marine Division Band and sailed for Japan. I spent over half of my enlistment in the far East. Our 33 division served as direct reserves for the 1st Marine Division in Korea. Shortly after arriving in Gifu, Japan, I was awarded another meritorious promotion of Corporal. I agreed to stay with the division beyond my normal rotation time and soon thereafter was awarded a final meritorious promotion to Sergeant. I returned to Treasure Island (near San Francisco, CA) and finished my tour of duty. I met Elizabeth Hartman, a girl from New Jersey, who was working for the CIA in San Francisco. We were married in 1955 and when my enlistment was up, we returned to Browning, Montana to teach. We returned to Missoula the following summer where I earned a Master's degree in Music Education. In 1955 I accepted a position as the high school music director in Yakima, Washington, and remained for six years. I became a member of the Elks Club and played trumpet in that band until we left Yakima. Four of our five children were born here (one son and three daughters). Our last daughter was born in Covina, California, where we finally moved. I concurrently taught instrumental music for several years at Whittier College in Whittier, California. I continued teaching instrumental music, music theory, and Jazz Ensemble for the next thirty years. I was chosen as Outstanding American Bandmaster by the U.S. All American High School Band. Shortly after this honor, I was appointed to the National Board of the American Youth Symphonic Band and Course Association and invited to be the Conductor of the next European Musical Tour. The following year I formed the YOUNG CALIFORNIA MUSICIANS ABROAD which enjoyed three successful concert tours to Western Europe, Scandinavia, and the British Isles. I was an elected officer in the Washington Music Educators Association and appointed one of the Adjudicators of New Music in the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association. Covina Valley Music Educator's Association and the Musician's Union offered interesting challenges. As Organizing Chairman of the Bicentennial Band, I was afforded the honor of working with World Famous Composer, Dr. Roy Harris. It had been my good fortune to study music composition, privately, with Dr. Harris for three years prior to this gala occasion. Retirement presents another interesting and exciting phase in my life. I joined my past Principal Musician and formed a music publishing business called NEOTERIC PUBLICATIONS. This venture is still in its infancy, however our catalogue is nearing completion and with the aid of a marketing advisor, we shall begin marketing our product. I I still enjoy composing and arranging music. My wife, who is also retired from teaching, and I enjoy the beauty of the High Sierra Nevadas, where we bought a condominium and spend lots of leisure time golfing, hiking, snow skiing and just enjoying. 34 CLINTON I. HAGEN 238 Garden Road Libby, MT 59923-2817 (406) 293-5217 I always look forward to our school reunions at Big Sandy. I cannot recall how many I have attended but have only missed 2 or 3 that I can remember. I was not a native of Big Sandy as I went 8 years of schooling at Zurich, Montana and my freshman year at Chinook. Dad's job on the railroad was transferred to Big Sandy so we moved there in the Graduating in 1945, the war was on, I registered At this time, Jack Dyer and I were working the summer in Glacier Park as trail crew and fire fighting members. I was packed out of the back country by mule train to get ready for my military time. I served in the U.S. Army 1946-1947. I was assigned to the Quartermaster Unit and took my basic training at Camp Lee, Virginia. After basic training I was sent to a mechanical school. I was sent overseas to Japan as Army of Occupation. I was assigned to Gen. MacArthur's headquarters. Our barracks was in the Japanese Finance building, which was the same as our Ft. Knox. We were about 2 blocks from the Japanese Capitol building. Everything between our barracks and the Capitol was leveled from bombings. I received my discharge in 1947 at PFC rank. After my discharge I worked at various jobs at Big Sandy, moving to Great Falls in 1949 and going to work for the Great Northern railroad. I took an apprenticeship under the GI Bill. This consisted of carpentry, metal work, welding and air brakes. After 7 years with the railroad I decided I wanted a change so I quit and went to Libby, Montana on construction. We did a lot of moving - working in Libby - Missoula and then to The Dalles, Oregon - up to Pasco, Washington. From there to Wenatchee and back to Pasco. During these moves I worked on installing machinery and equipment. I worked on 2 large dams on the Columbia. I worked on the Hanford atomic energy facilities 3 different times. I also worked on the Titan missile sites during the Cuban missile crisis. It was very interesting but I was beginning to feel like a mole as everything was under- ground. I worked at this for 14 months. 35 We moved back to Libby in the summer of 1961. We decided to settle here so I went to work for St. Regis paper company. I was maintenance foreman for 13 years. I spent the next 13 years as heavy equipment mechanic and welder. I retired in 1989 after 26 years. I married Eloise Holum in Great Falls in July of 1953. We have 3 children: Cheryl, Cindy and Ivan; also 3 grandchildren. Our 3 children all live at Libby. In 1965 I was crushed at an accident at work. However, after 4 operations and a lot of plastic they put me back together and with the help of my wife and children we built our own home. We are still living in the same house, but it is too big for the 2 of us. We are enjoying our retirement years. We have a motor home and boat so spend most of our summers camping and fishing. We enjoy gardening and bowl on league teams. Also do some hunting but not like I used to. We are involved very much in community activities. I was a voluntary fireman for 23 years, ending up as Captain of the mask crew. I have been trustee and a member of the Board of Directors of our Mill Credit Union and a trustee of the Eagles. I have held many offices of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I was Commander of our Post in 1991- 1992, earning one of 8 All State Commander awards. I am presently Jr. Vice Commander. I have been a continuous member for 47 years. I also am a 20 year member of the American Legion. We have built our V.F.W. Post from 200 members to over 400 - making us the 3rd largest in the state. My wife has also held many auxiliary offices, serving as Auxiliary President for 2 years. I hold a government driver's license to drive the V.A. van from here to the Veterans Hospital which goes 2 times a week from Libby. All drivers are volunteers. Summing it up - I look back at the teachings I received from my folks and Big Sandy of helping and getting involved to help the community and friends. I remember how Big Sandy pulled together during W.W.II with the big scrap drives, war bond sales, and the all out effort of everyone. Big Sandy was 1 and I am proud I was a part of it. FRANCES HENDERSON REICHELT 108 Riverview Blvd. Great Falls, MT 59404 I I left school in March 1943 and married Eugene Reichelt on March 20th. Gene went into the Army in October 1943 . I followed him to various Army bases until he went overseas in Dec. 1944 . 36 He returned from Italy in August 1945 and was discharged from the Army February 5, 1946. We leased a farm on the prairie west of Big Sandy. Our oldest daughter Nancy was born May 28, 1946. Wayne was born December 10, 1947 and Carol arrived March 22, 1950. They are all graduates of Big Sandy High School. Nancy married Donald Gasvoda and moved to a farm southeast of Big Sandy. They presented us with four handsome grandsons, Mark, Brian, Dana and Brandon who are also graduates of Big Sandy High School. Donald died of cancer in 1986. Nancy later married Bill Cronin and lives in Havre. Wayne enlisted in the Air Force after graduation and after his discharge married Shirley Hoover of Conrad. They had two boys Eric and Brent. Brent was killed in a tractor accident when he was four. Wayne and Shirley were divorced and he later married Barbara Rues of Blaine, Washington. They have two daughters, Brenda and Melissa. Wayne has been in the Border Patrol for nearly twenty years. He is now stationed in Havre and is thinking of retirement in a few years. Carol married Dan Danreuther and they live on a farm northwest of Carter. They have three sons Micheal, Aaron and Chris and one daughter, Kayla Marie. Gene and I moved to Glasgow in 1972. I had taken several secretarial courses and worked at the old Glasgow Air Force Base as Supply Secretary for the Tumpane Co. who had the Operations and Maintenance contract for the Air Force. Gene went to Brunswick Mechanic School and was employed at the Base Bowling Lanes. We were offered and accepted overseas employment in June 1976. We lived and worked in Saudi Arabia. While there we had the opportunity to do extensive traveling. We visited Egypt, Cyprus, Switzerland and were in London and New York more times than we care to count. These are all very interesting places but there is no place like the United States. We decided in 1984 to come home1 and stay. We bought our home in Great Falls and are enjoying our retirement. Our greatest pleasures are our kids, grand-kids and the three great grandsons and one great granddaughter. HELEN R. HENDERSON CURTISS 238 Harmon Road Chehalis, WA 98532-8912 Married: Divorced: Married: Leonard E. Ray December 7, 1941 August, 1957 Eugene Curtiss 37 Children: Harriett Morley Betty Forest Jerry Ray Grandchildren: . Harriett, mother- Terri, Debbie, Patricia, Brenda, Tina Betty, mother- Tammy, Scott Great grandchildren: Terri, mother- Debbi, mother- Patricia, mother- Brenda, mother- Kathryn, Thomas Mitchell Aaron, Christina Melissa, Lance, , May Joey, Stephan w a ii w w i • . . i Worked at various restaurants in Montana until 1974, at wnicn time I moved to the west coast Seattle area. I started to work for Group Health of Puget Sound, November of 1976 until my recent retirement January, 1994. Retirement: I purchased a double wide modular home when I retired to live on a 62 acre farm with my eldest daughter and son-in-law. We own a variety of different types of goats, such as Cashmere, Pygmy, Dairy goats. Hobbies: Sewing, traveling, fishing, crocheting, and other various needle-craft hobbies, baseball and basketball. VIOLET LANIK DRGA HC 77 Box 848 Big Sandy, MT 59520-6904 (406) 386-2424 My first 8 years of school was spent at the Iliad School, 30 miles southeast of Big Sandy. I joined the class at Big Sandy High School as a freshman in 1941 and stayed with them all through the high school years which also were the years of WWII. The Big Sandy band was an institution in itself! It had a fine reputation and so many wonderful musicians. I recall the first week as a freshman when there was band tryouts . I didn’t know a thing about band but someone said go , so out we went and down to the band room. Mr. Hegre, the band instructor, needed some one in the Saxophone section (Norma 38 Chauvet was graduating). He handed me the sax mouthpiece. I didn't know how to put it together or a thing about it! Mr. Hegre must have felt for some of us country kids and gave us a chance. I had taken some piano lessons from Mrs. Viola Lohse so I could read music and that helped me. Mr. Hegre got me a used E flat alto sax for $60. My folks paid for it out of their cream and egg money. The band was great and after I finally caught on to things, I really enjoyed it. The band always played! They played for all the school functions, did concerts, festivals, community and sports affairs. Whenever a group of men left for the service, the band would be at the train station to play to them. I remember the Band Festivals in Havre - the practicing, the uniforms, the marching, the playing on your corner and mostly hoping to do things right!! We had so many excellent musicians. They always seemed to be able to lead or to cover any mistakes anyone made. I'm especially thinking of Bobbie Green, Joe Quinn, Mernie Wright, and Eddy Nygard who were classmates. There were so many others. After graduation in May of 1945, I immediately went to summer school at Northern for 9 weeks of intensive training in elementary education under the guidance of Miss Jeanette Donaldson. This was allowed because of the teacher shortage during the war years. Then I was hired by the Kabo district, a rural school 45 miles southeast of Big Sandy, and I began my teaching career. Pay was $100 a month. I lived in the teacherage and was teacher, janitor, counselor, etc. I taught for 5 years returning each summer to NMC for more training and certification. I married in 1950 and then taught 5 more years for a total of 10 years as a rural school teacher including schools at Kabo, Iliad, Eskay, and Haystack Butte. On September 21, 1950, Henry Drga and I were married at Havre and I started a whole new career as a farm and ranch wife, homemaker, and mother which has kept me busy for 45 years. In 1959 we had a daughter, Ann Kathryn, who also graduated from BSHS and then from Montana State University with a degree in Home Economics Education Extension. She married Larry Bitz in 1983 and we now have two wonderful grandchildren - Rebecca and Daniel. They have moved back to our home place to help us ease into retirement. To end the High School Band story, that old sax of mine got reconditioned in 1972 and our daughter Ann used it through her junior high and high school days. She still has it. We spent much of our energy building up the farm and ranch. Henry had acquired the Vaclav Czech homestead prior to our 39 marriage. We built our as it became available shelterbelts, dams and could. Our goal was to have achieved that goal. home here, acquiring surrounding land to us. We added buildings, corrals, other conservation improvements as we become debt free some day. And we Even though the farming and ranching takes a lot of time and energy and our family has always been our first priority, we have been involved in many community activities. Besides rural school activities, we have worked with the 4-H clubs. Farmers Union, Saddle Club and Homemakers Club. Henry and I always enjoyed going to the local rodeos, dances, and any community gatherings. We've tried to be good neighbors and good community members. We were selected by the Montana Farmers Union to attend. a conference in Washington, D.C. which we enjoyed very much. We have been to Washington State many times as well as journeying up into Canada and across Montana. Now with two grandchildren, who love to be read to and to play games, there isn't much time for hobbies although I enjoy reading, needle work and gardening. (Ann would say I need to include talking on the phone as a hobby tool). Now in our retirement, Henry and I plan to enjoy our family, visit our friends, perhaps travel a little and enjoy the Direct Digital Satellite ! We wish each of you a wonderful 50th reunion - may all your days be blessed with happiness. MURIEL LUND SILVAN Box 390 Big Sandy, MT 59520 (406) 378-2143 I was born, raised and schooled at Big Sandy. College was at Northern Montana College, Havre, MT and then teaching three years in rural schools in the Big Sandy area. Two other years were spent as part time teacher. Joe Silvan and I were married in Big Sandy and lived on the farm. The farm is a good place to raise children. We also had a garden, cattle, pigs, and chickens, 40 sometimes lots. We delivered 350 dozen eggs a week on a route in Great Falls for several years. Joe built our home over a period of 4 years along with farming and family. We moved the house to town in 1979, and remain there. Children are Shirley who lives in Kansas, and has 2 boys, Don-deceased at age 18, Phil lives in Big Sandy and has 1 boy and 1 girl, Jan in Big Sandy has 3 boys, and Connie in Glasgow has 2 girls and 1 boy. When we moved to town, I started working for Big Sandy Activities. This is an adult day program for developmentally disabled. I was a DDCPT-Developmentally Disabled Certified Program Technician. I wrote programs and trained the clients that were assigned to me. I also had the responsibility of the Craft Program and sales and was supervisor for the cleaning crew. I was with BSA for almost 13 years. My latest venture was to purchase the Town Pump building. Joe remodeled, Jan decorated it, and we opened a Deli, Gift Shop, and Craft Supply store. Besides the usual business of serving meals and waiting on people, I have craft and painting classes for adults during the winter and for kids in the summer. We are in our 6th year, and still going strong with long hours and lots to do. I've been Sunday School teacher, Church officer. Choir Member, and member of United Methodist Women. As a district and conference officer of UMW I've been privileged to take several trips for special training, to New York, Washington D.C., Portland, Tacoma, San Diego, and Kansas City. I was 4-H leader for 20+ years, and am a member of Extension Homemakers. I'm also a current officer in Big Sandy Commercial Club. The spring of '83 I started writing a garden column for the Mountaineer and later for the River Press. I continue to write the weekly article. We had exchange students from Belgium, France, and Japan. We enjoyed each of the young women very much and we still correspond. Joe and I went on a tour of Europe for our 25th anniversary. We met a cousin of Joe's in Czechoslovakia. That was a very special time. After we finished our tour of 8 countries, we went to Belgium to visit our former exchange student. We stayed with her and visited many places near her farm. Two years later, we went to visit Joe's cousin's family in their home and met the rest of the family and met some more cousins. We also visited the birthplace of Joe's mother, her school and the gravesite of her parents. More recently, we were on a week long cruise that left from Florida. Phil and family and Shirley 41 went, too, along with some friends. Very enjoyable. I've been to Creative Painting Conventions to keep current with craft and painting techniques and new products. I enjoy many crafts and have done many paintings in oils, water-color, and acrylics. I like flower arranging and other creative decorating. Gardening is one of my spring, summer, and fall interests. Gardening leads to harvest and food preservation and I do lots of that, too. Most of all I enjoy my family. I am very thankful for good health. I am so thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for my parents and the example they lived. God has been good to me. He has given me talents and abilities so I don't have to be bored. He has given me a zest for life and a love for people that I am excited about and feel comfortable with. My greeting to each of you is that you love God and that He will care for you and keep you in the center of His will. WALTER J. MONSON RRl Box 747 Big Sandy, MT 59520 (406) 378-2253 I was born Jan. 9, 1927 west of Big Sandy. There I grew up, and started school at a country school. I went two years there, and then went to the Big Sandy school for four years, then back to the country school for the last two years. I I started high school in 1941 and I almost finished my full four years, but was drafted for the Army in March of 1945. I still received my diploma even though I left before graduation. I wound up in Camp Maxey, Texas in March of 1945. There I completed twenty weeks of infantry training. In Sept. I came home on a delay-en-route for about a week then reported to Camp Adair, Oregon. I stayed there about a week and then on to Camp Stonemon, California. From there I was shipped to Japan, where I joined the 77th Infantry Division. We were stationed up in the Northern part of Japan. It was very cold there, about -40° once in awhile. This was Hokkaido, the northern most island of Japan. I stayed there the winter of 1945-46. Most of the work was guard duty and returning Koreans who had been taken prisoners and were working in the coal mines. 42 In the spring of 1946 the 77th Infantry Division was deactivated and I was sent to Tokyo and joined the 1st Cavalry Division. I remained with the 1st Cavalry Division until October and was sent back to the States. I was at the Oakland Army Depot for about four days and was then sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. I received my discharge in November 1946. Since then I have been farming west of Big Sandy. In 1949 I married Darlene Handford, who graduated from Big Sandy High School. We have two daughters, Patty and Connie. Patty is married to Verlin Reichelt and Connie is married to Chuck Simpson. Chuck and Connie have two sons. Both Verlin and Chuck graduated from Big Sandy High School. Connie and Chuck live in Minnesota. Chuck works for 3M, which is located in St. Paul. Patty and Verlin farm west of Big Sandy. Patty also works at the bank in Big Sandy. Connie has a degree in History and French. Chuck has a degree in Chemical Engineering. Patty has a degree in Finance while Verlin has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1960 I took flying lessons and bought a J-3 Piper Cub. I flew for ten years and decided to quit and sold it. Darlene and I still live on the farm west of Big Sandy. EDWARD L. NYGARD 1652 Glacier Ave. Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 586-3498 EDUCATION Our family moved to Great Falls several weeks after graduation in 1945. Enrolled at University of Montana 1945. Obtained a degree in Forestry and Range Management 1949. MILITARY Served in Army 1950-53. Basic training in Fort Riley, Kansas. Stationed at Army Chemical Center, Maryland in 1951. Stationed at 8th Army Hdqs Korea 207th Preventive Medicine Detachment for 20 months until discharged in Sept. 1953 as a Sergeant First Class. 43 CAREER Affairs at San Carlos Apache and Worked for Bureau of Indian Affairs au Sci Ranae Papago Reservations in Arizona as a Alaska Conservationist 1954-1959. Transferred to Kotzebue, Alaska as Range Conservationist 1959-1961. This was a move from the hot desert 32° latitude to the cold desert 67° latitude. Annual precipitation remained at 6 but temperatures ranged from minus 50° F to 65 versus 35 115° in the hot desert. This involved reindeer husbandry and range management. Transferred to Juneau 58° latitude as Land Operations Officer in a more temperate climate in 1961. This still involved reindeer operations and managing a slaughter plant, fisheries management enforcement, related wildlife management problems. Retired in 1980 after working for three years in environmental analysis. Worked as home improvement contractor 1982-1992. Married Shirley in 1955. We have two sons - Chuck married to Bonnie and Scott Married to Crystal. Our daughter, Gail, is married to Al. We have two granddaughters and a grandson belonging to Chuck. There are also two granddaughters and a grandson belonging to Gail. COMMUNITY Active in our church. Active in the Masonic Lodge having served as Master twice. Also a 32° KCCH Scottish Rite Mason and active in their proceedings• Member of Al Aska Shrine Temple and Juneau Shrine Club which is active in arranging transportation for patients from our local area to Shriners Crippled Childrens Hospitals Burn Centers. Both of us have held various offices including Matron and Patron of our Order of Eastern Star Chapter. We volunteer for Juneau Convention Visitors Bureau staffing an information center for cruise ship passengers and also at the City Museum. LEISURE We have been on cruises in Caribbean and Panama Canal. Usually spend time in Hawaii each year for fun and sun and just relax. Salmon fishing in summer. 44 LAURENCE R. OPHUS P.O. Box 573 Big Sandy, MT 59520 (406) 378-2568 After quitting High School a couple of times I was inducted into the service on May 26, 1944 at Fort Douglas, UT and sent to Camp Roberts, CA to an infantry training center. In August 1944 I transferred to Fort Sill, OK and into the field artillery for training. On February 28, 1945 I was sent to the European Theater and spent some time in Germany and Northern France as a gunner in the Field Artillery until the war ended there. After the war I was transferred to a Southern France Engineer Combat Battalion that processed troops bound for Japan. Later I spent about five months in Vienna, Austria as one of the occupational troops until I returned home and was discharged from Camp McCoy, WI on June 18, 1946. After being home in 1946 it took me a short time to spend all the money I had saved while in the service, all 3 or 4 hundred dollars. Then in the fall of 1947 I started operating a school bus and in 1948 I bought some land belonging to Ray Wright. I leased some adjoining land and started farming. In 1949 I married a neighbor girl Norma Krumsick. In 1952 our family started arriving and within the next 6 years we had five children: Nora, Darleena, Larry, Delores and Karolee. By now our house was getting pretty small so in 1958 we started to build a new one. Three years later we moved into our three bedroom house with full basement which we built from the ground up. In 1962 I quit the school bus after 16 years which included operating two buses for the last eight years. Along the way to our farming operation we added land which had belonged to Mary Roark, George Livers, Burt Wright, Campbell and Lefeldt, Bill Krumsick, and Elsie Bradford (Dr. Worstell's sister). Early on I needed a repair shop for the school buses and the farm machinery so I built a shop and with some time on my hands I started a business called Ophus Repair Shop. This I continued until our son graduated from High School. At this time he wanted to go into this business so I turned it over to him along with a farm lease which I had been leasing from Raymond Livers. Then in 1979 we bought a home in Yuma, Arizona and have been spending about five winter months there since that time. In 1988 I retired and leased the farm to our son, Larry. 45 I am a retired fireman from the Big Sandy Fire Department and Ambulance Service after 30 years of duty. I was on the Big Sandy City Council for about 20 years. I'm a life member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a 49 year member in the American Legion. Now in 1995 our family has grown to 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. We still have our home in Big Sandy, our winter home in Yuma, Arizona and the farm. Our time is spent in the summer farming, repairing, camping, fishing and various hobbies. Our winters are spent bowling, dancing, visiting with happy hours, and hobbies probably in that order. I hope anyone coming south in winter or Big Sandy in summer will stop and visit us. MYRON H. (WHITEY) OPHUS 624 6th Ave. Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-7367 I was the 8th child born to Pearl and Anton Ophus at the Ophus farm home and attended school in Big Sandy. I joined the Marines, graduated and received my diploma from the Marine Corp Institute. I served in the Marines for 4 years. I was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego and ran the PX before becoming 1st Sergeant. Returning to Big Sandy I farmed, ran Carssow's Confectionery and the Vet's Club. Later I sold the farm to my brother- in-law and then turned my talents into running Bear Paw Motors. The real estate business was my next interest and the last endeavor was working for Human Resources Development. I am now retired and spend about 6 months in Havre and 6 months in Phoenix. In 1957 I married a Big Sandy school teacher Lynn Hughes and to this union added two sons, Myron Jr. now of Spokane and Byron of Havre. I've been active in the American Legion, serving as Commander and served on their honor guard. I also have been involved with the Optimists, Elks, Eagles. Over the years I have enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, watching the stock market, reading and playing cards. I have made a trip to Europe and the Caribbean and toured many states. 46 During my senior year I enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Upon graduation I was called to active duty and received boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. I sang in the Great Lakes Bluejacket Choir while there and then moved on to duty stations at Chicago; Gulfport, Mississippi; and Treasure Island. I was discharged at Camp Shoemaker, California as an Electronic Technician's Mate 3rd Class in July 1946. Following discharge I re-enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, for a four year tour but was thereafter released to inactive duty. JOE M. QUINN 10201 Comanche Drive Spokane, WA 99208-9388 (509) 466-1670 I attended Montana State College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1950. Following college I moved to Havre where I organized and taught a Veterans On The Farm Training Program sponsored by Northern Montana College. In the spring of 1953 I started my career with the Farm Credit Administration and the Federal Land Bank of Spokane. At Havre for six years I was a farm and ranch appraiser for land bank loans. I was then promoted to the Spokane office as Associate Chief Reviewing Appraiser for the Twelfth Farm Credit District. After six years there I accepted an appointment in Washington, D.C. as Associate Chief of Appraisals for the Federal Land Bank Services Division of the Farm Credit Administration. In 1968 I returned to Spokane as Chief Reviewing Appraiser and held that position for five years. Then I transferred to the staff of the Federal Land Bank of Spokane as Corporate Secretary. I retired as Senior Vice President in 1983 after completing thirty years of service. I married Doris Freeland of Bozeman in the spring of 1950. Our three children were born in Havre - two girls and a boy- Connie, Sheryl, and Michael. Each is married and has two children. Connie lives in Kirkland, Washington and has two girls aged fourteen and twelve. Sheryl lives in Spokane and has two grown children, a girl and a boy. Her girl, Lisa, is also married and has given us our first great grandchild. Mike is a residential building contractor in Eagle River, Alaska and has a six year old girl and a four year old son. We were active in community affairs in Havre. 47 I was a local Director and State Vice President of the Jaycees. I was Master of Havre Lodge No. 55 AF AM and belonged to the Great Falls Scottish Rite Consistory and Algeria Shrine Temple in Helena. I was President of the North Central Montana Shrine Club and a member of Havre Chapter No. 30, Order of the Eastern Star. I was President of Havre Toastmasters International. I am also a member of Alpha Zeta (a National Agricultural Honorary), the American Legion, and Fraternal Order of Eagles. In 1958 received a Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce in Havre for Outstanding Community Service . Wanderlust was in my ancestry so it is natural that I have traveled in 49 states and several foreign countries including the Soviet Union. Traveling is an important activity in our retirement and we also enjoy sports. In addition I admit to a fondness for fine dining with candlelight, aged wine, and violins. The golden anniversary of my high school graduation is an occasion of especial importance to me. I feel a deep sense of personal pride with my community, my class, and myself. MARDELLA REICHELT JORDAN 10030 Hyalite Road Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 586-6456) After graduation from BSHS, I went to Great Falls with Erma Buchholz Reichelt and we both went to work at what was then East Air Base. I transferred to Oakland Air Base at Oakland, CA about 6 months later and after 6 months returned to Great Falls. In the fall of 1948, I went to work for the Montana Board of Health in Helena and remained there until my marriage to Robert Jordan in March 1951. Bob is from Belgrade, MT and was working for a rancher near Manhattan, MT. We remained there until that fall when we moved to Butte and were both employed at Hansen Packing Co., Bob as a buyer and I was secretary bookkeeper. In the spring we returned to ranch work near Belgrade. In the fall we moved to Galen, MT where Bob was employed at the Mount Haggin ranches and I worked at the TB Sanitarium. When green grass came in the spring of 1953 we returned to the Gallatin Valley - this time to stay. Our first daughter, Lynette, was born in June. Bob leased farm land and spent his winters logging in Hyalite Canyon and Gallatin Canyon. Our second daughter 48 Charlotte was born in November, 1955. We purchased the land we had been leasing and Bob built a shed, corrals and a barn to accommodate our cows. Jennifer, our third daughter, was born in January, 1961 and the following year we had a house built on our land. Bob built a shop, hay sheds, and later on a garage for his trucks. We raise cattle, horses, grow hay and some grain. In the spring of 1963, Bob decided to give up logging and went to work for Gallatin County in the Bridge Dept. In 1969 I went back to secretarial work at MSU and retired in 1989. Bob retired from his job as Bridge Supervisor in 1990. We were both 4-H leaders for many years while our daughters were members; Bob remained active as a county leader in horse projects for a total of 25 years. I was a member of a Homemaker Extension Club until I went to work at MSU. In our later years we belonged to the DoCiDo Square Dance Club where I served as Secretary. We had to give this up after I had had multiple sclerosis for a few years. I was diagnosed as having MS in 1987 and it has necessitated many changes in my life. As for our daughters - Lynette has been an elementary school teacher in Libby since graduating from MSU in 1975; her husband, Pierre Petrau, is also an elementary school teacher in Libby. Charlotte and her husband, Kent Terry, and their 11 year old son, Chad, live in Gillette, WY. Charlotte graduated from MSU in Business Administration and is Purchasing Agent for one of the coal mines. Kent is in Bus Maintenance for the school district. Jennifer and her husband, Fred Saunders, are at the N Bar Ranch near Grass Range, MT. Fred is Cow Foreman there and Jennie does some work for the ranch and is kept busy with their children, Justin, 8, Kinze Ann, 4. As for Bob I - we're still ranching 9 miles south of Bozeman at the mouth of Hyalite Canyon and have no plans to do anything else. LEONA SANFORD GILMORE Box 1001 Chinook, MT 59523 (406) 357-2877 My first eight years of education was in a one room school called Raglan Bench, sixty-five miles from Big Sandy. After taking eighth grade exams in August, as our school was held in the summer, I moved into the Dorm to begin High School. This was a real experience for a country girl who had never been away 49 from home. Four years later, in 1945, was graduation. Everyone went their own ways. I moved home and helped my parents for two years. Then September 18, 1947 I married Kenneth Gilmore, who is a World War II veteran. We lived in the country before moving into Chinook. We have two children. Dale Linda. Dale has a meat processing business and he is a meat cutter at the IGA. He has five children and three grandchildren. Linda works for the Montana Power Company. She has two boys. I worked as a waitress for a year, then in 1954 I went to work at the variety store as clerk, bookkeeper, assistant manager and manager until 1978. The store sold out. Then for two years I spent the summer on the Missouri River when Kenneth ran the ferry. Then in 1980 the county hired me as a co-skipper on the ferry. We did this every summer until 1993 when we retired. For hobbies I crochet, knit and do crossword puzzles. I also enjoy baby-sitting for my great-grandson. MERNIE WRIGHT WEATHERS 3400 Bitterwood Place-A002 Russett Tanglewood Laurel, MD 20724 (301) 776-5343 When I turned 40, I decided to simplify my life--get organized, get rid of excess baggage. Alas, it was too late. The flotsam and jetsam bobbled merrily in my wake. And, now at three score and seven, I assemble the following for the Class of 1945 reunion. Born in Kansas (in a town that no longer exists), I grew up 7 miles north of Big Sandy, Montana, in a family of prairie homesteaders. After graduating from the University of Montana Havre, in 1948, I also attended classes at the University of Virginia (1971-72; 1975-76); but, never having formally declared a professional 50 specialty, I was left open to enjoy everything: history, art, music, literature, science — the total beauty of daily living -- whether I fully understood it or not. In 1950, I married Stormy1 Weathers, a military man (Corps of Engineers) I had met while working in Okinawa for the US Army in 1949. I accompanied him on military assignments to Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and two tours in Germany while raising a family of four: Del 51; Patricia 52; Megan 56; and John 58. They have all married (some more than once) and have given me 8 grandchildren - 2 per family: Erik Katie ; Jeremy Sharra; Lauren Catherine; Danny Julie. Along the way, the toad work squatted on my life (as poet Philip Larkin so vividly characterized that affliction) in a series of jobs known by their acronyms or alphabet-soup names: MUCC Montana Unemployment Compensation Commission, Helena,MT 1945 -- after high school 1948 — after college 1950 -- upon return from Okinawa NAGS North Atlantic Girl Scouts, Kaiserslautern, Germany 1963 -- community service as Neighborhood Chairman for 20 troops AFTAC Air Force Technical Applications Center, Alexandria,VA 1965-70 -- documentation of classified information IAP SI International Art Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1970-71 -- assembling art to show abroad WWICS Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (located in the Smithsonian) 1971-89 -- dedicated through scholarship as a living memorial to the 28th president of the United States On the theory that one good road is enough to get from here to there, I have visited a good many places to satiate my continuing desire to travel. Okinawa 1949-1950 -- Camp Kue Germany 1953-55 -- Bad Tolz, Murnau, Garmisch 1963-65 -- Kaiserslautern, Munich (During these tours of military duty, we took family trips to Italy, East Germany, Spain, Switzerland, France, Austria, and The Netherlands) 51 Africa 1977 -- Senegal and The Gambia (Visiting my daughter Megan who was serving 2 years with the US Peace Corps) England 1987 -- Exchanged houses with a British colleague for 3 weeks and toured Scotland and Wales via BritRail with friends England 1989 -- Operated a barge on a canal cruise in Wales with daughter Megan; visited daughter Pat and family living in Harrowgate and also accompanied them to The Netherlands United States 1949 to present -- Various trips to all but about 9 states to visit friends, relatives and to participate in an ELDERHOSTEL In July of 1985, my husband died and is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. During these past few years I have been downsizing my life -- moving from single home to a townhouse to condo where I now live in Maryland. After retiring on April Fool's Day in 1989, I took part-time jobs (Census Taker in 1990; nanny to one of my granddaughters while her mother returned to school to earn an advanced degree; and assisted on call with other grandchildren) while searching for a meaningful project. This past winter I joined a group called Build the Russett Library (BRBL) whose mission is to build a replacement for the temporary library built in our area. So, as the 21st century approaches, I go BRBL-ing into the sunset in this organized chaos I call my life. CLASS ADVISOR i. retiring at the end a Master's Degree at ALFREDA SIGG DRABBS Box 244 Hinsdale, MT 59241 I I moved to Hinsdale the fall of '46; married at Christmas of 51; had 6 children in the next 10 yrs, Mary Eleanor, Francis Sigg, Charles, George, Aline Nancy; worked in Glasgow 1973 '74 for the Development Council; became County Superintendent of Schools November of '74 and held that position for 12 years, of '86. In 1948, I did one quarter toward Columbia University in New York City (didn't 52 like it in the summer) so I never finished, but it did give me my Life Certificate which is no longer available! In 1976 as a Kellogg Mini-Keeper I traveled back to New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. That was when Mernie and I got together and we have seen each other a couple more times. I now have 7 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren, the newest IN MEMORY - GRADUATES MARGARET COLE WARD DECEASED Margaret E. Ward was born August 20, 1927, to Mabel and Charles Cole at Big Sandy, Montana. She grew up and attended school in Big Sandy graduating from Big Sandy High School in 1945. While in high school she was active in band playing the clarinet. In 1953, she moved with her parents to Clarkston, Washington. Three years later, on July 7, 1956, she married Ben Ward at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. During her 33 years of marriage to Ben Ward, she worked as a dental assistant, was a homemaker, and then became partner with her husband in the Timeshop jewelry store. Margaret was a mother to two children: Ken C. Ward of Clarkston, Washington and Jody A. Ward also of Clarkston, Washington. Margaret also raised and cared for, as her own, a stepdaughter, Vickie L. Sly of Selah, Washington. In addition to raising and caring for her children and stepdaughter, Margaret especially enjoyed traveling to Montana to admire the wildlife and enjoy the scenery. She also loved to attend the hometown reunions in Big Sandy. Margaret died in 1989 at the age of sixty two at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Idaho of cancer. She is presently survived by her two children Ken C. Ward and Jody A. Ward, her stepdaughter Vickie L. Sly, her father Charles Cole, two sisters Charlotte Riley and Rachel Prevatt, and her brother Robert Cole. is a month old. 53 DELORES GOECKS COURTNAGE DECEASED Delores Ida Courtnage was born June 13, 1927 in Deisem, N.D. Her family moved to Montana in 1929 and farmed on the Prairie. They moved to Big Sandy in 1935. She attended Prairie City country school and graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1945. While in school, Delores partici- pated in cheerleading and band, was War Bond Queen in 1943, and Prom Queen in 1945. Delores married Deane 0. Courtnage on May 26, 1945. She enjoyed bowling, ceramics, crocheting and her grandchildren. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 1, 1985 at the Rohrer Memorial United Methodist Church. Survivors include: husband Deane, children Lyle, and Debbie of Big Sandy and Penny Palensky of Auburn, WA, mother Anna Knutson of Big Sandy, brother Clifford Knutson of Helena, and sister Dora Mahood of Great Falls. Grand- children Deanne and Roger Kulbeck, Nathan Courtnage, Dirk and Eric Beyer. Nieces Sarah and Holly Knutson, and many other loving friends and family. She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Goecks in 1936 and sister Dorothy Geyer in 1974. EDWARD E. POKORNY DECEASED Born October 31, 1927 Died July 15, 1981 54 RETAKES By Bil Keane Reprinted with special permission of King Features Syndicate PLEASURE IS THE FLOWER THAT FADES; REMEMBRANCE IS THE LASTING PERFUME. --Boufflers 55 SETTING THE SCENE JBIRTH NOTICES 0V 11 «53® V yJNVt 7 PRICES I I $ 2.400.00 I | $ 495.00 II $ 7.682.00 || cs idcnt Boston Marathon CLARENCE DeMAR 2 HRS. 40MIN. 22SEC li OV FA ' UF Kings M Sc c mE DEV7L The t | inttaruly ami rani? a l) Mahlr ami maj hr mitrtl j. ••« ahmeor l.merr.l  pt. Iiirrd krloit. Ami ilir (ptirnm.. |V lifter nimble m-ji i. available I f « .. atlilnl | iwi1(«riN uuh thr |i p up (ir ill.« n. N  li ha«vlrctril prmiinr Iraih I cr 4 lv..h r qualm f. r ihr .im I •  kr- t upl« J  rfv ami aim h.r. w | k rwnMc '«■it. r Indianapolis 500 97 545 MPH GEORGESOUDERS 56 ENTERING SCHOOL First, Second and Third Grades 1935 - 1936 BACK ROW: Cora HUNT, Joan WATSON,---------- . T_T cnw ROARK Georqe LAMIR , Joe QUINN, Harold HALVORSEN, George NIELSON SECOND ROT: Margaret COLE, Bobbie BECK(?), Judy FIJIMATO, Marion CAMPBELL, Beverly BAILEY, Violet LAMIR , Kathryn LANNING, Mernte WRIGHT, Zona SMITH, Mary Ann SHORE, Audrey SIEBRASSE,LxHian LIT'TL! LD. THIRD ROW: Albert NIELSON, Jack DYER, Rob® INGRAM. Bernard LUND, Dickie SARGENT, Toby LAMIR , Tom RANES, Robert BARTLETT, Harold SHERBECK, Bob y FRONT ROW: Bobby GREEN, Glenn SKAALURE, Harvey MACE, Harold MACE, Myron OPHUS, Edvard NYGARD T Name may have been spelled LAMERE te ROO te 0 .e, be to ad! ccpv $0 X ivn pc : sh : vtb- 1 aeco d n i 1 — ig'. . ,sSe’ 9 57 1941 COMMENCEMENT (Cont.) o o HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL We humbly herewith submit the Senior-Junior high school honor roil for the second semester. 1940-1941 ‘‘A Honor Roll To attain this rank a student must have at least three As in hi: regular froadamic subjects and no grade be- low B. Yvonne Crofoot, Edward Nygard, Mary Petr. Joe Quinn, Mar della Rei- chelt, Memie Wright. “B Honor Roll Those whore names are listed here have not quite reached the A stand- ard but have no grade below B in their four regular academic subjects. Martin Anderson. Ieline Berlinge:. Helen Dixon, Alice Henderson, Alma Jappe, Alva Jappe. Glenn Panchoi, Wilma Siebrasse, Ellsworth Skeie Ann Jean Worstell. Annual Grade School Honor Rcfll The following boys and girls at- tained the annual honor roll and were presented with Scholarship Awards on the ckmng day of school. The grade honor roll is made up of the top 20 I per cent in each of the first 6 grades. Betty Collins. Dora Goectoe, Darlene Handford. Iris Ingram. Lillian Little- field. Beverly Lloyd. Irene Lund, By- ron Martin. Connie McNamara, John McNamara, Shirley Misfeldt, Lillian Nygard. Jeanine Ophus. Vernon Oph- us. Byron Perkins. Georgie May Reich- elt, Shirley Ann Sfcebrasse, Florence Tingley. Patrick Welty. Punctuality and Attendance Awards The following were presented awards for good attendance during the yeai This award is given to those pupils who have perfect attendance during t least five of the six six-weeks terms. Joe Balazic. Emma Blake, Olive Blake. Merle Boyce. Viola Boyce, Rob- ert Cole, Betty Collins, Marlyn Cor- nett. Edwin Ellingson, Delores Goecks. Dora Goecks. Robert Green, Betty Gullickson, Iris Ingram. Norma Krum- slck. Tom Lsnning. Harold Lee, Lil- lian Littlefield. Lois Lund. Connie McNamara, John McNamara. Edith Mcore, Edward Nygard. Emil Nygard. Lillian Nygard. Bessie Rada, Calvin Reichelt. Alice Shurtliff, Irene Shurt- liff, Ruth Vestal, Memie Wright. Bet- ty Yama. The greatest scholastic achievement of the evening was announced by Mr. Miley when he informed the audience that Memie Wright had been advanc- ed to the freshman class because oi her splendid work in the 7th grade. kV hj' 3unior  « S4o oi Big San v Blottlana is to Certify (That satisfactam? completed the Course of Study prescribed by Law for tbc Juuior High School and therefore merits this Certificate of Promotion aud admission to the Senior High School. Given at Big Sandy. Rlontana, thu----2-2____day of i (Eertrfiea fflirot (See list at left) a jmpii of tht- cAs a trstimonial of H|« afcnfie arrnntpJishmrnt toe Ijrrrbg grant tins JUrarb of 98[ on or. j, ----£- L—hvxt nf_ ig «JPEPINTIXDCNT 58 VICTOR Bin t'NITE U U U U l It • ii n ii n ai n i h ii it n h n I M U U U M U 1 It U U  1 ! II U II M t M • M U U U U II IB It IS U N II B t U  SB ft II M G°' oveSo°v iS'rV 13 1« It 1« It IB IB IB II U i) U II N It ii n U U U II M It bo m « B IB IX IS U IB IB It IB IB  n |1 |4 M BB It IB B t B B IB U U U 14 IB IB It IB It   it n u ii u bb U IB It IB  li n u It It M SB B IB U IB IS t rtvs- tf 9 0r - V V w ‘ £ v-jn B IB U U U IB It IB It II IB IB II «S II H II M It IB IB B It II U IS It It IB IB SB IS 14 It H n SB t IB SI jO£, 941 $r‘ r far , FRESHMEN INITIATION - FALL 1941 Kneelinq. L-R: Robert INGRAM. Leona SANFORD, Edward NYGARD. Standing, L-R: Teddy ERICKSON Lawrence OPHUS Margaret COLE, Paul LaBUDA, Delores GOECKS, Robert GREEN, Louis BIERWAGEN; Margaret BAKKE Rear: Muriel LUND. Front. Dorothy GOECKS. Edward POKORNY, Mardella REICHELT. Joe OUINN. Rear. Helen HENDERSON. Kenneth KING. Partially visible rear. Ethel RANDALL, Frances HENDERSON. Mostly concealed above Ethel's left shoulder. Merlin MANDSAGER; Violet LANIK. Margaret KELLER, Betty YAMA. Mernie WRIGHT. Walter MONSON is standing directly behind Edward POKORNY and only the top of his hair is visible. Not visible: Gerald BERLINGER. Absent: Erma BUCHH0L2. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SIGNSTffi rm ct CONTRACT WITH A LABO FIRST COIN 1r.nardina Berlin the ford MOTOR COMPANY s on . I- 0 8,1 59 TWENTY-NINE FRESHMEN ENTER BIG SANDY CLASS OF 1945 Margaret BAKRE, Louis BIERWAGON, Gerald BERLINGER Erma BUCHHOLZ, Margaret COLE, Teddy ERICKSON, Delores GOECKS, Dorothy GOECKS, Robert GREEN, Frances HENDERSON, Robert INGRAM, Margaret KELLER,Kenneth KING, Paul LaBUDA, Violet LANIK, J Muriel LUND, Merlin MANDSAGER, Walter MONSON, Edward NYGARD, Lawrence OPHUS, Myron OPHUS, v; A Edward POKORNY, Joe QUINN, Ethel RANDALL, Mardella REICHELT, Leona SANFORD, Mernie WRIGHT, and Betty YAMA. ._______il II PIlrtTrVTil 4 % . y m % 60 mu iel goecks L-R: Lawrence OPHUS, Delores GOECKS, Paul LaBUDA, Dorothy GOECKS, Myron OPHUS. (Great Northern Train Depot at left Library at right. Annual spring rite was walking the fence at the left.) And gff rr edraftM 1 THE DRAFr|gf towered  ndpa 5d  «ce TO A BASKETBALL STANFORD 18 a v T lajssd in D IL' K’ ACBSSej ncrt HO® sum , ss Is? Wa , v ii u - - ■«eS Si £ 3 IrE ■ 2= £ •ssffi Tp : £ l,‘w - GUWS, line Navy L______—“ SANTA FE SYSTEM LINES mill iliM 61 ROOSEVELT ASKS CONGRESS FOR 53 BILLION FOR WAR EFFORT r=3= Jangar Sailg touuauuit PupptFrance Breaks With U. S. Rooselilt Explains America's Motives Seconi Front Opened In Africa A ? ,0 °°u. ,o 488 0 c cic Bvi inS ' C' C 0JV£ - N ryA yEAR (3 rfO ve OP tO 10 1942 PRICES .oost lRmsH begin AVERAGE INCOME NEW CAR NEW HOUSE LOAF OF BREAD GALLON OF GAS GALLON OF MILK 1.885.00 920.00 3.775.00 .09 .15 .60 Ot HEAVY RAIDS ht am rrr Es « german cri4___ GOLD PER OUNCE SILVER PER OUNCE DOW JONES AVERAGE U 13 14 X 1« IT • ii e n n n 24 ! 2 ft ts 2 0 31 • 2 1 U U 12 14 H 1« t U II 29 21 22 U 24 25 24 7 21 ■  1« u u u u 1 I It II 1 2« 21 22 21 It 21 M 27 22 V s VmZDS0 hl JAPANESE- r 13 AMERICANS TO CAMPS 112 4 • 4 7 • 2 10 U .2 U 14 M 1« 17 12 • 2« 21 12 2) 2« 22 I 1' 2 24 M 10 11 12 13 14 IS 1« 17 12 12 20 21 22  24 22 t« 27 21 2 22 T 2 2 IS U 12 13 14 11 14 17 12 1 2« 21 22 23 24 21 22 27 21 22 32 •V ° ,v ' U 13 14 11 14 IT 12 -► 2« 21 21 21 24 21 2' 22 22 22 31 13 14 12 2 12 U 14 17 12 12 22 21 23 24 21  4 27 2« mi—W 1242 1 2 2 4 1 •  • 2 12 U 12 13 14 12 14  7 It 12 22 XI 22 21 24 23 11 ■7 22 22 22 .1 13 13 14 1 14 IT 12 2« 21 21 22 24 « 22 27 22 22 22 J1 3 2 4 1 4 7 2 12 U 13 13 14 4 IT 14 IS 22 21 U 12 2f 14 27 22 1 2 2 4 1 4 1 2 2 12 11 12 13 14 U 14 17 12 I — 21 22 23 24 22 • 62 I L 63 BACK ROW; Edna Maxwell, Verna Henderson, Edna Olson, Jeanine Ophus, Erma Buchholz. [MIDDLE ROW: Dorothy Henderson, Ramona Lidstone, Lillian iNygard, Ann Marie Jurenka, Ruth Flannery, Leatrice Butler, Libby Silvan, Joyce Hagen, Mona Edwards, Ruby Flannery, Alice Shurtliff. FRONT ROW; Margaret Kalanik, Barbara Hammond Dixon, Mernie Wright, Anna Petr, Violet Lanik, Dora Goecks, Frances Eve, Shirley Misfeldt, Delores Goecks; Ramona Smith, Staff Member, Girls' Glee Club — 1945. Since Band Director Orion G. Hegre was called to the army at the end of the first semester, Clifford Knapp of Havre consented to take over the band for the remainder of the year. The band continued to play at the depot for inductees, maintained the high standards set in previous years, even under the handicap of evening rehearsals. The mejor activities In which the band has participated during the peat year are: The Havre Music Festival; Radio Broadcast over K.F.B.B.Oreat Falls; The Elg Sandy and Fort Benton Fairs and the Canadian trip where the band played an Impor- tant part in welcoming Their Majesties, the King and 3ueer. of England, to Medicine Hat. This was an experience and an opportunity which, we may say, comes once In a lifetime,end we felt greatly honored to have been chosen to play at the offic- ial welcoming ceremonies. Accompanying the Royal Train were newspaper men frero the United States, Canada and England, and mention of the part which the Big Sandy Band played at the ceremonies was made In all the leading newspepera and magazines, not only In the United States end Canada,but alao In English newspapers. 64 •. ; „ °fne , ne a. l° ilde fir A °n«rch.X 6 l-- 7 4 r ™ to liv +0 Cl a«ce A ,;re V 4 W 4?- a i « ■ « i • I 14 11 U U 14 II 14 1? 14 It t 1 IX U M II H IT M 14 1X14« 4 X 4 4 14 11 11 IX U 11 14 IT 14 14 to XI U XX 14 X 14 XT 14 14 o,v —«ce , rr,fim V '1-V ',,V ' Yv IX U 14 11 14 14 10 XI XX 44 XT 14 14 44  1 IfUL 1444 4 14 U IX U 14 U 14 IT 14 14 M II U XX 14 XI 4 IT 14 4 XI XX XX 14 11 11 11 U 11 14 14 14 14 tl XX XX 1) 14 n 14 14 10 : I: FIRST V-l ROCKET BOMB HITS LONDON Tfi£ 4 14 U IX 11 14 II 14 IT 14 14 14 U XX U 1« 11 14 IT 14 14 0 4 14 11 11 IS M II 14 IT 14 14 14 XI 11 IX U II 4 IT 14 IX 14 II 14 IT 14 14 M 11 11  14 XI 14 IT II 14 H U I 4 T I  14 II IX 11 14 11 14 IT 14 14 14 11 11 1) 14 XI ta xa xo 14 U 11 14 u II r IT II II 14 XI XX 14 U 11 11 U IS IT 14 II 10 XI tl 1« 11 14 XT XI 14 , C S- MacAKitiUK ALLIED RETURNS TTUjjA V ' FORCES THE Op O' sf.0 MARCH INTO PHILIPPINES ROME, ITALY MacARTHUR 65 66 67 VICTORY W BUY sww) lNITED W L STATE rffi WAR 7 MfcfBONDS J rJCjj1 and biM STAMPS BIG S NDY NOK FLYING MINUTE MAN FLAG Big Sandy is now one of the few schools in Montana eli- gible to fly both the white and the blue Minute Man flags. These are flown every Wednesday from the school flag pole. The white flag is called Minute Man and awarded when 90 percent of students purchase war bonds and stamps regularly. The blue flag is called School-at-War and awarded when 90 percent of staff members make such purchases The big Sandy' sch'ddt har1 £CTr advised that a few students have cashed in partially filled War . Stamp Albums at the post office during the past few weeks. Altho very few students are guilty of this practice, it was thought best to call the attention of the parents and teachers to this regrettable habit, so that the cases do not in- crease. No record is kept at school of the amount each student buys, only the total sales. Students are urged to buy stamps regularly, but only one 10c stamp once a month is sufficient for the minimum pur- chase. If students buy stamps and cash them in; thene is a great wastclot.tlme jeftoxtYanflJDaper. le® 1945 PRICES AGE INCOME $ 2,390.00 GOLD PER OUNCE ■SIJA R PER OUNCE Back, L-R: Dorothy HENDERSON, Barbara HAMMOND Beatrice BUCHH0L2. Front: Delores GOECKS crowning Violet LANIK. L-R: Dorothy (Chub) HENDERSON, Barbara HAMMOND, Beatrice BUCHHOLZ, Violet LANIK Being Seniors, it was our privilege to have the Bingo Booth on Victory Night. We were fortunate to make $97.50 which helped pay for the curtain for the stage in the gymnasium. This curtain was presented to the school by the Classes of 1944 and 1945. Violet Lanik, our candidate, was crowned Victory Belle. (From BLAZED TRAILS, 1945) 68 be ver creek p rk picnic M Y 1945 Left 4s Delores GOECKS, Erma BUCHHOLZ, Bobbie GREEN, Muriel LUND Right 3: Ethel R ND LL (STANDING Margaret COLE, Mfreda SIGG, class sponsor Bobby GREEN — wLth his trusty slingshot. 69 Dean Anderson Will Adders Big Sandy Graduating Class -  me?FSelfii'6rs Receive Diplomas Thursday Night ixte-n Seniors of Big Sandy j high school were graduated last Thursday evening at the twenty- «•ighth annual commencement ex- • rcises. The diplomas w re pre- sented by 1-larl King, who is amem- bor of th board of trustees of dis- trict No. IJ. The pregram opened with th Sen ois in their caps and gowns marching in led by the Color Guard and the Color Patrol. Mrs i'cb Green played the procession- al. The adderss to the class was made by Dean Walter A. Ander- son of the State University, who spoke on What Lies Ahead for the Graduate. Reverend Striker gave the invocation and the Bene- diction. Music was furnished by the nigh school band under the di- rection cf Clifford Knapp, and by Robert Green who played a corn. ? i?;o. Principal Miley presented the Junior High promotion class with their diplomas, and Superin- tendent Hood made the awards tc the r.onor students in the Senior class. Mt-rnie Wright and Eddy were announced as the winner5 of the citizenship award. T. following high school students made up the Color Guard: Lillian Nygard, Ramona Lidston.-. Dora Gocc'rs. and Connie McNamara. The Color patrol (Junior H. S.) in- cluded: Ray Giebrl, Phyllis Boet- tcher. and Mariam Olson. The hon- or students of the Senior class were Mernie Wright, Joe Quinn, Eddy Nygard. and Robert Green. The following students were presented with hgh school diplo- mas. Margaret Bakke, Erma Buch- olz. Margaret Cole, Delores •Joecks, Robert Green. Clinton Hagen, Violet Lanik, Muril Lund. Walter Monson (in the armed forces). Edward Nygard, Edward Pokorny. Jo Quinn. Mardelle Feichelt. Blanche Riley, Leona Sanford. Mernie Wright. The following students received Junior high school promotional certificates: Robert Boettcher, Ani- ta BuchhoU, Joyce Chauvet. Mar- lyn Cornett. Maxine Currie. Edwin Ellingson. Michael Gibbons, Betty Arr Gullickson. Darlene Hanford. I iris JJiram. Irene Kaiser. Norma' Krunsi it. Gwendolyn Littlefield. Olson. Dorothy Perkins. Irene MrnrriE wntCHT BIG SANDY. May 14 — (Special) —Walter A. Anderson. daan of the school of education at Montana State university, will deliver the commencement address at Bic Sandy hi ah school Thursday eve- ning, May 17. The honor students of the senior class of ISM are Mer nle Wright valedictorian; Joe Quinn, salutatoria ; Edward Nygard and Robert Green. Commencement week started at Big Sandv with the baccalaureate exercises Sunday evening. The ser- mon was delivered by the Rev Charles Rhodes, of the Methodist church. Senior class night will be held Tuesday. Other seniors are Margaret Bakke. Erma BuchhoU. Margaret Cole. De- lores Goeck . Clinton Hagen. Violet Lanik. Muriel Lund. Walter Mon- son. Edward Pokorny, Mardcl.a Retrheli. Blanche Riley and Leona Sanlcrd. Monsoa u serving in the armed forces. 70 fiig  antjp ixeb School dmrsftu’ (Corning jHnr 17. 1945 HIM (I. «e Sicinnia Communiri' ball PROGRAM mmmm! ................................ Hr . 6 «r Country Ganfc am —Grainger _____ Ri-r r od Sttik  met Solo ... Hnttert Green Start m a Velvety Sky — H rtoert L- Clark Idrett Walter A. Audi (ton What Lie Ahead lor the Gradoatr iitc Hich School Band Pori • no tmrt nod U-hl CamtrUM  «• . ruiaier ■tMM.i rati - raun rua tun   •  Uutacje! - 0 nl«’ U«r h a—irraaail W C fall tauw0|4. atorefc -• T,16t LUrroRO I..MIT DB a r Junior K h Sehool Praraerir i Franti E Mil.-v Prerenmron cf Senio. Uaf Chat. E Hoad p.e enia: n of Diploma B H GiillicJuan B. adi-irn Reverend Stt .- The a Jten « i reqoett-d t r.re when the Senior cniu daring lh p'tvm, ot the Proeettion ! C0L01 GUARD COLOP VATP.OL Back: Clinton HAGEN, Robert GREEN, Edward NYGARD Joe QUINN, Edward POKORNY Middle: Mernie WRIGHT, Margaret COLE, Mardeila REICHELT, Margaret BAKKE Front: Muriel LUND, Violet LANIK, Leona SANFORD Blanche RILEY, Erma BUCHHOLZ. £ '' annual Commmrrmrnr Cxrrriare 71 WE FINISHED TO BEGIN NOTES THE PAST SO SAD, SO FRESH, THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE. --Tennyson