Ritzville alumni return for banquet

RITZVILLE — Graduates of Ritzville and Lind-Ritzville high schools will meet for the 117th alumni banquet Saturday, May 25, in Gilson Gymnasium.

The catered event begins at 6 p.m. and is expected to be attended by about 200 alumni.

The toastmaster for the evening is Tyler O’Brien, from the Class of 2015.

The 6 p.m. banquet will feature the traditional roll call of classes, induction of the incoming class of 2024, and special recognition of the classes of 1924, 1949, 1974 and 1999.

Class pictures will begin at 4 p.m. in the gym.

The association will induct this year’s Lind-Ritzville High School graduates: Ayden Alfonso, Isabella Arroyo, Emily Balfe, Arienna Bernal, Maycee Carlson, Danny Chavez, Reetamae Dean, Richard Diaz-Berber, Blake Earle, Maxwell Fedie, David Gutierrez-Morales, Caleb Heater, Harlee Hennings, Cindy Julien, Brock Kinch, Carlie Loop, Megan Melcher, Bridger Moore, Klover Mullins, Michael Nichols III, Talus O’Brien, Octavio Peredes Martinez, Travis Redburn, Traye Redburn, Sujeili Rodriguez, Sarah Russell, Trey Schukay, Sequoia Slater-Burns, Kemper Smith, Gabriel Smith, Shawn Steinberger, Ashleigh Swartz, Lane Tellefson, Dominic Turnbull, Willow Turner and Lance Williamson.

Prior to the banquet, several classes are planning reunions.

The Class of 1979 will kick off the reunions with a 6:30 p.m. get-together Friday night, May 24, at the Eagles Aerie, 110 N. Washington St. On Saturday, May 25, they will meet again at 1 p.m. at the Washington Association of Wheat Growers headquarters, 109 E. First Ave.

Also on Saturday:

The Bronco Inn, 105 Galbreath Way, will host the Class of 1959 at 1 p.m. and the Class of 1975 at 2 p.m. the Class of 1959 will return for more activities after the banquet.

The Class of 1960 will meet at the home of Marsha Reimers Smith after the banquet.

The Class of 1999 will be meeting at 6 p.m. at the banquet.

Members of the 25-year Class of 1999 with tickets to the banquet as of Thursday, May 16, are: Jamie Alspach Chappell, Kamie Parrish Gylling, Morgane Plager Roth, Veronica Schoesler Clinton, Jaimie Wellsandt Devore, Megan Yerxa and Eric Reimer.

Class of 1974 members planning to attend include Colleen Ahern Jacobsen, Marsha Arlt Teske, John Faure, Kandice Ford Heimbigner, Curtis Hennings, Ron Hennings, Debra Kagele Arlt, Jeffrey Lenhart, Nadine Lyle King, Kole McCrady, Patti Ritter Gering, Denise Miller Anthony, Catherine Minion Moeller, Richard Patterson, Gregg Schilling, Greg Schrag, Jack Schwisow, John Sieverkropp, Doug Swyter and Jean Young Renner.

From the 75-year Class of 1949, only Edna Eckhardt Murray had a ticket to attend at press time.

Members who graduated before 1949 expected to be in attendance include Evangeline Ahrendt Moeller, Class of 1944; and Richard Kagele, Class of 1948.

Other class alumni expected in attendance include:

1952 — Barbara Freese Jolly.

1953 — Thomas Edwards.

1954 — Jacob Weber and Michael Weber.

1958 — Dena Freese Roberts.

1959 — Gerald Braun, Charlene Miller Clark, Joanne Wagner Undeberg, Linda Wellsandt Howell and Kerwin Ziemer.

1960 — Dallas Haag, Michael Howell, Jeanette McRae Harris, Marsha Reimers Smith, Dennis Schafer, Gary Templin, Max Webb and Dona Rae Werner Haag.

1961 — David Steinmetz.

1962 — Ione Ragsdale Wright.

1963 — Steve Taylor.

1964 —Kirk Danekas, Rex Harder, Rick Moore and James Thomas.

1965 — Michael Bauer, Joyce Klein Preston, Danny Packard, Cheryl Ragsdale Eng and Myra Rowe Walter.

1966 — Ron Greenwalt, Barbara McGarry Greenwalt, Peggy Oestreich Crossler, Greg Taylor and Nyla Telecky Hennings.

1967 — Pam Bauer Van Winkle, Jeanne Benzel Englund, Anita Benzel Walli, Bruce Benzel, Steve Heimbigner, Allan Little, Margaret Montague Gannon and Michael Schrag. 1968 — Laurel Walenta Taylor.

1969 — Vicki Kramer Benzel, Sandy Moeller Heupel and Rex Rosenoff.

1970 — Barbara Heimbigner, Marilyn Minion Moore, Mary Rowe Arlt and Marilyn Sielaff.

1971 — Shannon Ahern Alberts.

1972 — Brad Arlt, Andrew LeFevre and James Moeller.

1975 — Bruce Gering and Randy Kiesz.

1976 — Sue Abbott Swyter and Diane Kagele Borth.

1977 — Nancy Brewer Patterson.

1978 — Stacey Schell Schoessler, Gary Schwisow and Jay Weise.

1979 — Brad Gering, Michele Kagele Kiesz, Colleen Miller Kuhn and Janet Miller Sprenger.

1981 — Debbie Grams Gering

1982 — Suzanne Arlt Meek.

1985 — Angela Hennings.

1987 — Todd O’Brien.

1989 — Angela Steinmetz Melcher.

1992 — Mike Balfe.

1993 — Scott Hennings.

1994 — Thomas Pulliam.

1995 — Michelle Teske Hennings.

1997 — Damon Roth.

2015 — Tyler O’Brien.

Tickets for the banquet are still available from Marilyn Sielaff; call her at 509-347-6188 or email [email protected]

Ritzville Alumni Association officers this year are president Nichole Thiel (1987), recording secretary Julie Gardner Flyckt (1993), treasurer Stacey Schoessler (1978), membership secretary Marilyn Sielaff (1970), and directors Michele Kagele Kiesz (1979 and Margie Montague Gannon (1967). Pulliam (1994) is the webmaster of the alumni website.