High School Alumni, Columbia, Brown County, South Dakota (Pt. 1) This is the full text of the following book. It was scanned in by Maurice Krueger (mkrueger@iw.net, 178 Southshore Drive, Mina, SD, 57462-3000) and proofread and edited by James J. Lewis (triske@io.com, 3503 Owen Cir., Apt. N, Austin, TX, 78705-1130). The original book did not have an index, so this full text version was scanned in order to facilitate names searches with a search engine. An original print copy of the book is available from Aberdeen, South Dakota's Alexander Mitchell Public Library (519 S. Kline St., Aberdeen, SD, 57401-4495). It does not have a catalog number. * This work may be freely copied, but may not be sold. * ----------------------------------------------------------------- ROUNDUP TIME OF ALUMNI OF COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL 1926 - 1965 Prepared by the Columbia Alumni Association, Columbia, SD Printed by Western Printing Co. c. 1965 ----------------------------------------------------------------- PROLOGUE We, the alumni of Columbia High School, want to share with each other the many recollections of the past. For as we reminisce, we re-live history and pass tradition on to everyone's future. Class histories from the various class chairmen have been good. Some facts, dates and figures need correction. We have been unable to contact all our former classmates; our "Comet" files are not totally complete, and our memories are human. We hope this project will encourage all to recall the many nostalgic memories of Columbia High School. Continue to send to your historian more of that which needs recording and help correct us wherever you can. On March 2, 1861, Dakota Territory became a reality when President Buchanan signed the Organic Act, and statehood status followed in November, 1889. Surely our pioneer ancestors taught their children the three "R's" by candlelight in their log cabins and sod shanties on the prairie, and from this began the desire to establish our first school. History tells us the first school in Dakota territory dates back to 1818 in Pembina County. The first school in Brown County was taught by Rachel Smith and opened in 1881 near the present site of Putney, S. D. The first schoolhouse in Columbia was built in 1883. This three-story, brick building was located on the hill three blocks east, across the railroad tracks, from the present Congregational Church in the area now occupied by the Catholic cemetery. Later, school was carried on in the County Courthouse, located where the present St. John's Lutheran Church stands. When the building was removed, our first, white, wooden two- story school was built on the present school grounds in 1907. This building had all eight grades downstairs, and ninth and tenth grades were upstairs. We had no gymnasium. We were able to gather a few records which indicate that school opened in Sept. 1907 with Miss Regan as superintendent. She taught grades 6-7-8-9 and Miss Peak taught the lower grades. Mrs. George P. Paddock was superintendent beginning Oct. 3, 1910 for three years. Such students to attend then were: Andrew Hoover, Alice Johnson, Orpha Hoover, Lillian Larson, Katie Conley, Harry Kemnitz, Mamie Hemen, Kenneth Hoover, Roy Wahl and Earl Schatfen. The fall of 1913, Mr. Zumwalt was Supt. for one year. Mr. A. G. Savage taught for two terms as Supt. and taught such individuals as Willis Klepfer, Frank Lewis, Katherine Connell, Fred Clark and Harold Hemen. In about 1916, Gust Wahl and Billy Peters planted the trees surrounding the school block. Mr. H. Melcher was Supt. for three years and our records show from an old High School newspaper, called the "Upstart", that a two-year graduation was held for three tenth graders - Hazel Pratt, Donald Hoover and Joyce Lewis. This graduation was held in the Congregational Church with Prof. A. H. Seymour of N.S.T.C. giving the address. Other numbers on the program were a duet by Eazel Pratt and Joyce Lewis, and a solo by Hazel; the class prophecy by Joyce and a selection by the church choir, a brief review of the history of World War I by Donald. The diplomas were presented by Mr. Melcher. Mr. Melcher also taught Beth Durkee, Bernice (Hall) Gabert and Delite Hastings. The third year of high school was added in the fall of 1918 for: Maude Gooding, Hazel Pratt, Joyce Lewin; and the Supt. was Margaret A. James for one year. Mary E. Ford was the Supt. for one year. J. O. Davis was Supt. for one year and taught Ada and Annie Larson, Gladys, Della and Reese Laurence, Anna Nilsson, Ruth Renderknecht, Gordon Elliott, Fred Wright, Jr., Charles Zantrow, Richard Daly and Edith Chase. George Chase was Supt. for two years and taught Bernice Elliott, Lois McCormick, Harold Dennert, Selma Hanson, Clifford Johnson, Laura Yeske, Helen Schliebe, Violet Borden, and Lester Hoover. In the summer of 1924 three more classrooms and a gymnasium were added to the structure. In Sept. 1925 a four-year accredited course was offered for the first time. The graduating class of 1926 was the first to complete this course. It was in 1924 and 1925 that a gymnasium and three new high school classrooms were added to the original structure. This building served Columbia vicinity for 34 years. During these years improvements were made yearly. In 1931 a new gym floor was laid, walls white-washed, furnace pipes enclosed, cloak rooms added, a library was set up in the English room and showers were installed. It was not until May, 1951, that blueprints were drawn up, by a former graduate, Archie Daly, for a new Community Auditorium. The original committee consisted of: Clifford Padley, general chairman, Dick Daly, Ben Buntrock, Connie Hanson, Harry Kemnitz, Oliver Weismantel, Harold Dennert, Rudy Buntrock, Floyd Davis, Bob Dennert, Henry Hillen, Bob Pence, Art Ringgenberg, R. L. Martin, Mrs, Ervin Milbrandt and Mrs. Albert Weihrauch. The structure, valued at $150,000, was built at a cost of approximately $45,000 due to the cooperative spirit of the men and women of the community. The project began with over $13,000 in pledges from the people of the community. Only four paid laborers were hired to work on the building. Some of the unique money-making plans were: community auction sales, community plays, food sales, breakfasts served at 4:00 A.M. to hunters, lunches sold at sporting events, donation from the Harold Dennert hunting pit rentals amounting to around $5,000. This structure was completed for use on Jan. 29, 1953. On April 13, 1954, plans were made to remodel the old gym to include grade and high school classrooms. This was completed in March of 1956. As the 1959 school year drew to a close, we looked back at some of the events that had happened that year. We remembered the State "B" Tournament. Then we experienced the tragic climax that ended 52 eventful years - the burning of our school. On April 29th the three-story, frame school burned to the ground. All material things were lost, some replaceable, some not, but memories can never be taken away. To supplement room, classes were held in the Congregational Church basement and one in the auditorium dining room. The Masonic Temple was converted into high school classrooms and these have been used for the past six years. A new, four-room, grade school was constructed next to the auditorium and finished March 1, 1960. Will our upperclassmen be scattered throughout the State or will a new high school be forthcoming? As an added note - the City of Columbia will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1979. The following Class Histories is a resume of 40 years of high school in Columbia. CLASS OF 1926 School opened in September, 1922, with a total high school enrollment of 39. Of these we believe the 13 freshmen were: William Padley Bernhardt Buntrock Evelyn Everson Albertina Zastrow Laura Podoll Lydia Podoll Lloyd Hill Amelia Krege Esther Flindt Norman Hassenpflug Louise Buntrock Helmuth Zastrow Vera McCormick Activities in those days were similar to the activities of high school students at this time except that we did not travel as fast nor as far nor were we as sophisticated as the seniors of the present day. We had a very good baseball team in 1924-25, winning a five- inch silver trophy cup for sportsmanship. We attended the baseball tourney at Groton and won 2nd place, but no trophy was given. In the spring of 1926-27, with Helmuth doing all the pitching, we won first place at the Groton baseball tourney, bringing home a big eleven-inch trophy. Basketball was also a popular sport. We had a basketball court with a packed dirt surface, on the southeast corner of the schoolground. This is where we learned our fundamentals in basketball. As seniors we were the first class to use the new portion of the building in which the gymnasium was located. Prior to that time we played our basketball games in the Lewis Building downtown, which was sort of a dance hall with two basketball courts. In 1924-25 when our new gym was completed, we were able to practice longer and developed a good basketball team. Prior to that we had a four-room school, with three years of high school upstairs and all eight grades downstairs. It was Nov. 26, 1926, when the first basketball game was played in the new gym. Cheerleaders were Melvin Lewis and Beatrice Markin. We were very active in Declam. Albertina Zastrow won first in the District meet in Groton. We also had a Senior Class play. Our class motto was "Always Lead; Never Follow." At our Baccalaureate services, the Rev. Green gave the sermon. Commencement was held at the Congregational Church on May 26, 1926, with Dr. H. K. Warren of Yankton, S. D., giving the address. Our diplomas were presented by John F. Holdhusen. The following is the first class to graduate from a four-year high school course at Columbia. William S. Padley graduated from the University of Nebraska and practiced law in Nebraska until 1963. He is married to Betty Cox and they have one son and one daughter. Bill was also in the Air Corps. Bernhardt H. Buntrock attended Aberdeen Business College. He was a farmer for many years in the Columbia vicinity. Ben is now an Insurance Agent, living in Aberdeen, S. D., with his wife, Agnes. They have five sons and one daughter. Evelyn E. Everson graduated from N.S.T.C. and was a teacher for many years. She in married to Alvin Schroopfer. They live in Haxen, N. D., and have five children. Albertina Zastrow studied nursing and is an R.N. She lives in Mankato, Minn., with her husband, Lester Halverson, and their son, Bruce. CLASS OF 1927 The Class of 1927 was the second class to graduate from C.H.S. We started as freshmen when Columbia School was still a three-year high school. Fourteen students enrolled: Helmuth Zastrow Henry Warne Norman Hassenpflug Emmett Prunty Inez Cooper Lorna Buntrock Lester Wahl Gerald Hoover Gerald Rathert Lee Pratt Lloyd Hill Ralph Elliott Arthur Karlen Vera McCormick We started our sophomore year with 12 students. We had lost Henry Warne, Norman Hassenpflug, Emmett Prunty, Inez Cooper and Lloyd Hill. We gained Russel Shore and Lydia and Laura Podoll. Columbia was still a three-year high school but we were in a new addition which had been added to the north side of the schoolhouse. With the new gym, basketball became a part of the school activities. Both girls and boys had teams. We lost Laura Podoll this year because of illness. In our junior year we had only 11 students. Columbia became a four-year accredited high school and added another teacher. Baseball we played in the fall and spring and our team won a trophy in a baseball tournament at Groton. The boys playing on that team were: Helmuth Zastrow, Ben Buntrock, Ralph Herseth, Lee Pratt, Ralph Elliott, Art Krage, Cyril Bernet, Lester Wahl, Bill Padley, and Clifford Padley. There were Harold Richardson, Gerald Hoover, and Orville Evernon who also played ball but may not have played in that game. We had all new teachers in our senior year. There were only 10 students to graduate. Lester Wahl had gone to Montana to finish and Lee Pratt dropped out. Beatrice Markin, who had left in 1923 because we had only 3 years of high school, returned to finish her last year. She had taken nurses training and needed her high school diploma to get her R.N. certificate. Class officers were: President, Russell Shore; Sec.-Treas. - Lydia Podoll; Class Advisor - Miss McAllister. School attendance had risen 33% with 52 students enrolled. During 1926-27 there were several "firsts". The first school carnival was held on March 10, 1927. Thelma Asher, a Junior, was elected Queen. The first "Comet", edited once a week, was printed by the class of 1927. The first copy came out on Nov. 24, 1926. Columbia School had its first music in 1926-27 when Leone Tollefson, the primary teacher, started an orchestra in Nov. 1926. It consisted of Cyril Bernet and Orville Everson, violins; Ruth Everson and Gerald Rathert, saxophones; Clifford Padley, drums; Clara Yeske and Helen Jett, piano. The group made its first appearance at the second annual declamatory contest on Feb. 23, 1927. In Feb., with Lorna Buntrock, Helmuth Zastrow, and Russell Shore as team managers, we sold magazine subscriptions to raise funds for athletics. Lorna's team won with 41 subscriptions. Clifford Padley sold 12 subscriptions, the most for one student. Miss Green organized a Hikers Club - the members hiked once a week. The first Junior-Senior Banquet and Prom was held. Ralph Herseth was toastmaster and the Everson orchestra played for the dance. The first graduate to come back and teach in Columbia was Lorna Buntrock in 1932-33. The Senior Class play was, "What Happened to Jones?" and the proceeds were used to buy a typewriter which was left to the school as a class memorial. With Helmuth Zastrow doing all of the pitching, the baseball team had a good year, winning four games and losing one. The team won their second and third trophies in 1927. Baccalaureate was held in the Congregational Church on May 22, with the Rev. Green in charge. Graduation exercises were on May 27, also in the Congregational Church. Lorna Buntrock was Valedictorian and Gerald Hoover was Salutatorian. Dr. A. H. Seymour of N.S.T.C gave the address, "Mint Marks." The class of 1927 had some tragedies over the years. Emmett Prunty, stricken with blood influenza, died on Feb. 2, 1928, after a short illness. Gerald Rathert was killed in a train accident in Cutbank, Mont., on July 5, 1933. Laura Podoll died in Calif. in 1947. Lorna Buntrock lives with her husband, Ralph Herseth, on a ranch near Houghton. She taught school and was Deputy Brown County Superintendent of Schools from 1933-37. She served as County Superintendent 1937-39. They have three children. Ralph Elliott lives in Aberdeen with his wife, Verna. He is employed by the S. D. Dept. of Highways. They have two children. Gerald Hoover resides at Yankton, S. D. He is employed by Northwestern Public Service. He and his wife, Charlotte, have two children. Arthur Karlen farms near Hecla. He married Florence Krause and they have four children. Lydia Podoll is married to Howard Ramstad. They live at Salem, S. D. and have two children. Lydia taught school. She has arthritis and is confined to a wheel chair. Helmuth Zastrow married Helen Neff. They live in Columbia and he is employed at Peavey Lumber Co. Max farmed near Columbia for a number of years. They have three children. Beatrice Markin, R.N., lives in Huron. She is married to Bud Keller and they have one son. She works at her profession. Vera McCormick lives on a farm near Columbia with her husband, John Smilloff. They have one son. Russell Shore married a schoolmate, Thelma Asher. They live in Yankton, S. D., and have three children. He is employed as a Parts Manager. CLASS OF 1928 The following enrolled as freshmen in Sept. 1924: Cyril Bernet Walter Leise Pearl Leise Orville Everson Evelyn Elliott Laura Podoll Thelma Asher Arthur Krage Harold Richardson Clara Yeske Edwin Yeske At the start of our sophomore year we had lost Laura Podoll, and Edwin Yeske left us after his second year. Ralph Herseth, Elnora Sullivan, and Martha Childress joined us at the beginning of our Junior year. The first Oral English Club was organized with Evelyn Elliott as president. As Juniors the six girls presented the play, "Her Son's Sweetheart." New basketball uniforms were needed, so the students sold magazine subscriptions to pay for them. We had a good team consisting of Cyril Bernet, Clifford Padley, Arthur Krage, Harold Richardson, Ralph Herseth, Walter Leise, Robert Dennert, and Orville Everson. It was while we were Juniors that the Board controlling athletics in S. Dakota effected the plan by which the State would be divided into eight regions composed of thirty districts. Columbia was placed in region one and district three. Other teams in this district were Aberdeen, Hecla, Barnard, Westport, Frederick, Warner and Stratford. While Juniors, it was the aim of all students to be on the Superintendent's list for examination exemptions. Any student having an average of 90% was exempt from an exam in the subject in which he had that average. At the second annual Declam contest Ralph Herseth represented our class in Oratory and won third place. Graduating on May 25, 1928, were Cyril Bernet, Ralph Herseth, Walter and Pearl Leise, Orville Everson, Evelyn Elliott, Elnora Sullivan, Martha Childress, Thelma Asher, Harold Richardson, Arthur Krage, Clara Yeske and Laura Podoll. Evelyn Elliott was Valedictorian and Clara Yeske was Salutatorian. Earl Klepfer presented the diplomas. The Junior-Senior banquet was held in the northwest classroom. The theme was "Bon Voyage", and Clara Schliebe was toastmistress. The seniors made a pledge to have a reunion the first Saturday in June, 1933, and every five years thereafter. Cyril Bernet attended the University of Minnesota. He is married and lives in Grant's Pass, Oregon, where he has a sportswear shop. Ralph Herseth attended N.S.T.C. and North Dakota State College. Ralph has been interested and active in politics and he became South Dakota's 36th Governor in 1959. He was the first Democratic Governor in 30 years. Many of his friends from this community attended his inauguration at Pierre. A banquet was given in his honor in our auditorium. He is married to Lorna Buntrock and they live on a farm south of Houghton, S. D. They have three children. Walter Leise graduated from Ellendale College in N. D. He is married and lives in Belle Plaine, Minn. Pearl Leise attended N.S.T.C. and taught school. She is married to George Reuteler and they have five children. Orville Everson graduated from Teachers College at Ellendale, N. D. He is married to a schoolmate, Jennie Issler, and they have two children. They live at Vancouver, Wash., where Orville teaches. Evelyn Elliott attended N.S.T.C. and taught school. She is married to one of Columbia High School's Superintendents, George Dirksen, and they have three children. They live in Fresno, Calif. Evelyn has been employed in the city library for several years. Elnora Sullivan, married to Herb Pautsch, lives in Malolla, Ore., and is employed as an accountant. Martha Childress lives in Minneapolis with husband, Clem Wenner. He is a warehouse manager for Winston-Newell. They have one daughter. Harold Richardson attended N. S. T. C. and taught school for nine years. He is married to Loretta Strang, who was also a teacher. They have eight children and farm near Houghton. Arthur Krage is married to Verna Kremer. They have one son and live in Los Angeles, Calif. where Art works for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. Clara Yeske is a Registered Nurse and lives in Jordan, Montana. She is married to Bann Wille and they have one son. CLASS OF 1929 The class of 1929 were freshmen the year Columbia first maintained a four-year high school. Those enrolled as freshmen were: Clem Wenner Daisy Borden Rachel Hoover Clifford Padley Robert Dennert Clara Schliebe Ella Krege Helen Fry Mildred Weismantel Alwin Dennert Alfred Chase Gilbert Karlen Florence Zastrow Oliver Weismantel In our sophomore year George Thompson, Hazel and Dorothy Spencer, Myrtle Richardson and Lucille Fouts joined us. Florence Zastrow left C.H.S. after her sophomore year to enroll at Seward, Nebr., Concordia Lutheran Teachers College to prepare herself as a parochial teacher. Peryl Russell joined us for the Junior year. Mildred Weismantel had to drop out after being with us for 3 years because of her health. Lucille Fouts also left us. Miss Leone Tollefson organized the first band in the fall of 1926 with six members and Clifford Padley played the drums. High interest by the community was taken during our four years at C.H.S. in both girls and boys basketball athletic programs. A Hikers Club was organized by Miss Green and many girls participated. The first Balfour Plaque Distinct Honor was awarded to the student who in the opinion of fellow students and faculty had distinguished himself during his high school career in scholarship, achievement, extracurricular activity, loyalty and fairness. Clara Schliebe won this award in 1929. The third annual Junior-Senior Banquet was held on April 20, 1929. In our senior year we had 13 graduates. Daisy Borden was our Valedictorian and Clara Schliebe was Salutatorian. Our class motto was, "At the Foothills Climbing." The class colors were old rose and silver and the class flower was the rose. Peryl Russell distinguished herself as Editor of the Comet and was honored with a Journalism award from S. D. State College at Brookings, S. Dak. Baccalaureate was held May 19, Prof. T. Harmon was the speaker. Commencement was held May 24 and Henry Osgard, N.S.T.C., was the speaker. Diplomas were presented by Earl Klepfer, Chairman of the Board of Education. After graduation, seven of our class enrolled at N.S.T.C. to prepare for a teaching career: Peryl Russell, Clara Schliebe, Jennie Issler, Hazel Spencer, Myrtle Richardson, Helen Fry, and Ella Krege. Clara, Jennie and Helen are still teaching. A few highlights of our classmates-- Daisy Borden is married to Dewald Stoecker, a postal clerk. They live in Phoenix, Ariz, and have two children. Daisy was a postal clerk. Robert Dennert married Lucille Wenner and they live in Columbia, S.D. Bob has been a banker and businessman. They have four children. Rachel Hoover Schueth is the only registered nurse of our class and lives in Pierre, S.D. She has four children. Rachel is widowed. Ella Krege is married to Albert Weihrauch and they live on a farm near Columbia. They have four girls. She taught school before her marriage. Clara Schliebe married Hillery Clark. They live in Chicago, Illinois and have nine children. She is a teacher at a Lutheran School. Myrtle Richardson Plummer lives on a farm near Columbia. She has six children and is widowed. Myrtle taught school before her marriage. Clifford Padley and wife Lorraine Wenner live on a farm near Columbia. They have two children. Hazel Spencer Green lives in Redfield, S.D. They have four children. She taught school for many years. Jennie Issler lives in Vancouver, Wash., with her husband, Orville Everson. They have two children. She is teaching school. Dorothy Spencer Murray married a farmer and lives near Garden City, S.D. They have two children. She taught school. Helen Fry Murray lives in Hobbs, New Mexico. She has two children. Helen has a degree and is teaching. George Thompson and wife, Ruth, live in Aberdeen, S.D. George is secretary of the S.D. Wheat Growers. They have four children. Peryl Russell Ogden lives in Aberdeen, S.D. She is a businesswoman and active in civic affairs. She has three children and is widowed. CLASS OF 1930 When the class started, it consisted of the following: Lucille Wenner Ruth Sullivan Marjorie Elliott Ida Zastrow Esther McCormick Lenore Felix Herman Krage Hazel Williams Laura Weismantel Esther Hanson Kenneth Kemnitz Walter Sieber Adolph Krege Of these, Lucille, Ida, Esther McCormick, Lenore, and Marjorie were the five members who attended all four years together. Alwin and Gertrud were members of the class the last three years; Mary, the last two years; and Howard Sonday spent his last year as a member of the class. The Junior Class play was, "Poor Father", and the Senior play was, "The Path Across the Hill." Both plays were directed by Esther Jones. Senior Class officers were: Pres.-Alwin Dennert; Vice Pres.- Mary Issler; Sec.-Ida Zastrow; Treas.-Lucille Wenner. Marjorie Elliott was Valedictorian and Esther McCormick was Salutatorian. Lucille Wenner received the Balfour Award for scholarship, loyalty, and achievement. The class motto was, "The Path of Difficulty Leads to the Door of Success." Class colors were Nile green and apricot and the class flower was the yellow chrysanthemum. The class donated a set of reference books to the school. The Commencement speaker was S. B. Nissen. The first Big and Little Sisters Club was organized. The first C.H.S. Monitorial system was introduced into the assembly the fall of 1929. This was the year the Columbia High School joined the S.D. School Press Association. A debate society was organized January 23, 1930, and was named "Nevem Firmi Decentes" (nine strong speakers). The first student council was organized by Supt. Dirksen. Marjorie Elliott attended N.S.T.C. and taught school before her marriage to Richard Daly. They live on a farm near Columbia and have one son. Lucille Wenner lives with her husband, Robert H. Dennert, in Columbia. They have four children. Ida Zastrow married a parochial schoolteacher, Earl Matthies. They live in Detroit, Mich. They have two daughters. Esther McCormick attended N.S.T.C. and taught school before and since her marriage to Robert Graves. They live at Frederick and have two sons. Lenore Felix is married to Henry Freudenthal and they live on a farm near Britton. They have five children. Mary Issler attended N.S.T.C. and taught school before her marriage to Joe Toomey. Mary was widowed and now teaches school in Rush Prairie, Wash. They had two children. Gertrud Weihrauch attended N.S.T.C. and taught school before her marriage. She and her husband, Art Ringgenberg, live on a farm near Columbia. They have nine children. Alwin Dennert farms north of Columbia. He and his wife, Phyllis, have three children. No one has been able to find any information about Howard Sonday. CLASS OF 1931 As we began our high school days in 1927 only four subjects were offered. Our Junior year saw the Student Council organized. The publication of a high school annual called "Memoirs" was the highlight of our senior year. Also, for the first time in its history, Columbia High was represented in a commercial contest in Aberdeen. Robert Hoover represented our class in the bookkeeping division and placed second. Edwin Karlen represented our class in the district declamatory contest in the oratorical division. The class motto was, "Not Evening - but Dawn"; the class flower was a rose and the colors were rose and silver. The Rev. T. E. Harmon delivered the Baccalaureate address, and the Commencement address was given by Mr. M. F. Tostlebe of N.S.T.C. Robert Hoover was Valedictorian and Helen Jett was Salutatorian. The graduates of our class were: Edwin Karlen farms and lives in Columbia. He is married to Rhea Christenson and they have three children. Emil Krage is married to Irene Karlen Sullivan and they live in Columbia. He operates the Sinclair Oil plant. They have two sons. Robert Hoover lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and is chief engineer for A. C. Johnson Construction Co. He is married to Grace Hagen and they have three children. Bob served in the Armed Forces in the Infantry. Marie Yeske is married to Elmer Peck and they live on a farm near Bath, S.D. They have one daughter and one son. Lydia Yeske is married to Homer Hayhurst and they live in Minneapolis, Minn. They have three children. Helen Jett is Mr. Helen Bellis and lives in Long Beach, Calif. She has two sons. Elnora Dennert is married to Douglas Giles and they farm in Endicot, Wash. She has three children. Helen Neff is married to Helmuth Zastrow and they live in Columbia. They have three children. She is a postal clerk in the local post office. Sylvia Tollefson married John Wilson and they are both deceased. They had two children. CLASS OF 1932 As freshmen we started with 16 students. Through the four years we lost a few and gained a few and in 1932, 17 students graduated from C.H.S. In our Junior year, Maude Russell wrote the words to our new school song, winning a season ticket to the home basketball games. Our Junior Class play was, "Rose of the Southland." Other honors during this year were: Verna Kindschi represented us at the singing contest in Aberdeen in the Soprano Division. Eloise Conley won $1.00 in an essay contest on "Why We Fete Armistice Day", sponsored by the Legion Auxiliary. We were represented in the district declamatory contest by Lorraine Wenner in the dramatic division. As seniors we presented the play, "Miss Somebody Else." We donated a new Ditto machine for the school paper. Ruth Everson won the Balfour Award for scholarship, loyalty, and achievement. Our class colors were blue and gold; the class flower was the yellow rose and the class motto was, "Forward not Backward." The Rev. Bennett delivered the Baccalaureate address and Mr. I. D. Weeks of N.S.T.C. gave the Commencement address. Valedictorian was Monna Kilpatrick and the Salutatorian was Ruth Everson. Our graduates were: Eloise Conley is married to Lawrence Jardee and resides in Aberdeen, S.D., where she is employed in the Internal Revenue Office. They have one son. Albert Krege is married to Florence Hoffman and they live on the Sand Lake Refuge near Columbia. They have two children. Esther Beller is married to Earl Johnson and they live in Seattle, Wash. They have six children. Monna Kilpatrick is married to Edwin Yeske and they live in Milpitas, Calif., where Mr Yeske is employed in Civil Service. They have six children. Helen Kilpatrick is now married to Brodie Trellis and they live in Richmond, Calif. She has a family of four children. Madora Jones is married to Jim Woolery and they live in Columbia. They have seven children. Eveline Weihrauch is married to Donald Pratt and they live in Long Beach, Calif. They have four children. She is doing office work. Frank Markin married Madeline Numiller, and they have four children. He works at AiroJets in Calif. Marion Wright is married to Charles Todd, of Columbia City, Oregon. They have two children. Verna Kindschi is married to Ralph Elliott and they live in Aberdeen, S.D. They have two sons. She is employed at St. Luke's Hospital. Marguerite Fouts married Otto Yeske, Jr. & they had three children. Otto is deceased. She is now married to Connie Hanson and they live in Columbia. Ruth Klepfer is married to Alvin Zastrow and they live on a farm near Columbia. They have three children. Rudy Karlen married Dorothy Mertz and they live on a farm near Columbia. They have five children. Ruth Everson is married to Ernest Snow. They live in Amarillo, Texas and have six children. CLASS OF 1933 Freshmen enrolling the fall of 1929 were: Donald Elliott Alvin Zastrow Reinhold Krage Wendell Felix Egon Buntrock Viola Smith Elda Wockenfuss Mervin Gilchrist Harold Nilsson Eleanor Hoover Hazel Rossman Edna Buntrock Viola Hanson Dorothy Buntrock Shirley Russell Delbert Esche Virgie Kittleson Robert Wright Our enrollment stayed the same our sophomore year but as Juniors, Robert Wright and Virgie Kittleson left us. Joyce Kilpatrick joined the class this year. Our Junior play was, "Adventures of Grandpa." We feted 17 Seniors at the Junior- Senior banquet on April 23 at the Congregational Church. Some new faces appeared our senior year and 20 graduated. They were: Donald Elliott, Alvin Zastrow, Reinhold Krage, Wendell Felix, Egon Buntrock, Viola Smith, Elda Wockenfuss, Mervin Gilchrist, Harold Nilsson, Florence Kilpatrick, Mildred Knecht, Eleanor Hoover, Hazel Rossman, Edna Buntrock, Viola Hanson, Dorothy Buntrock, Esther Albrecht, Shirley Russell, Bernice Albrecht, and John Daly. Robert Daly was with us only part of his senior year. "Manhattan Honeymoon" was the senior play. Hazel Rossman was class president. Alvin Zastrow captained the basketball team. Track was first introduced in C.H.S. in 1932. Bernard Jerde received two ribbons, winning second place in the mile and third place in the half-mile at the meet in Aberdeen. Eleanor Hoover took first honors in the novice class B typing division at the Dist. Commercial contest at N.S.T.C. Eleanor was also Valedictorian. Donald Elliott was Salutatorian. Alvin Zastrow received the Balfour award for scholarship, loyalty and achievement. The Rev. Bennett gave the Baccalaureate address. The basketball team was runners-up in the District Class A tourney. No trophy was awarded. Alvin Zastrow, forward, was selected to the All-Conference team at a meeting of conference coaches at Barnard. Donald Elliott attended Chillicothe Business School in Missouri. He married Alice Johnson and they have one daughter. Don owns a Grocery store in Columbia, the same one his father owned. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Alvin Zastrow was in the C.C.C. "Boysie", to his pals, is living on the Zastrow farm with wife Ruth Klepfer. They have three children. Reinhold Krage is a welder at the Great Lakes Steel Corp. in Detroit, Mich. Reiny is married and has four sons. Wendell Felix, "Cyk", served his country in the Army. He is married and lives in Berkeley, Calif. Egon Buntrock married Velma Ringgenberg and they have two children. They live on a farm west of Columbia. Egon works for the A.S.C. office in Aberdeen. Viola Smith married Wayne Watson, an electrician, and they live in Aberdeen, S.D. Elda Wockenfuss is an R.N. at Webster, S.D. She is married to Lambert Wattier. They have three children. Mervin Gilchrist attended S.D.S.C. He served in the Armed Services. He is married and lives in Calif. Harold Nilsson attended N.S.T.C. He was in the A.A.F. He has been in the teaching profession for several years. We are proud that he returned to C.H.S. as superintendent in 1964. He is married and has two children. Florence Kilpatrick is married to Ernest Lloyd. They farm at Houghton and have four children. Mildred Knecht married Marvin Mitchell. They farm south of Houghton and have two children. Eleanor Hoover Moody, attended S.D.S.C. and is presently employed as manager of the Columbia branch of Claremont State Bank. Eleanor lives with her mother, Jennie Hoover, one of Brown County's first rural teachers. Eleanor was married and has two children. Hazel Rossman is married and lives at Cyrus, Minn. Edna Buntrock, N.S.T.C., married Harley Ringgenberg. They live on a farm near Columbia and have four children. Viola Hanson married Elmer Knecht. They farm near Houghton. They have six children. Dorothy Buntrock attended school at Seward, Nebraska. She is married, has five children, and lives in Denver, Colorado. Shirley Russell is assistant postmistress at Westport, S.D. She is married to Rex Bartels and has three children. Bernice Albrecht is a beautician and lives in Aberdeen, S. Dak. John Daly was a member of the C.C.C. He is farming east of Columbia, and is married to Myrtis Vitense. They have one daughter. This class held a reunion in 1958. There were 14 members present with their families. CLASS OF 1934 We started our freshman year with the following: Dorothy Holland Loree Hammond Esther Yeske Bernard Jerde Orville Rumrey Arlene Russell Leland Hall Genevieve Jones Beatrice Rossman Reinhardt Schliebe Stanley Dennert Arthur White Delbert Esche Virgie Kittelson Agnes Buntrock As sophomores we had lost Arthur, Agnes, and Virgie. Dorothy took her junior year at Groton, S.D., and Loree went to Daly Corners for her junior year. We gave our junior play, "Safety First." It was directed by Mr. Cyril VanCamp. As seniors we lost Stanley Dennert and Delbert Esche but gained three new students from Daly Corners - Lucille Daly, Herbert Schliebe, and Arthur Daly. Loree and Dorothy rejoined us to graduate. Our Baccalaureate was held in the Congregational Church on May 20, 1934, with Father Mahoney of Hecla giving the address. Commencement was held on May 25 and Mr. Tostlebe gave the address. Bernard Jerde was Valedictorian and Dorothy Holland was Salutatorian. Bernard received the Balfour Award. Class officers that year were: Pres.-Esther Yeske, Vice Pres.- Orville Rumrey, Sec. & Treas.- Bernard Jerde. Orville and Bernard represented us at the S.D. Press Ass'n meeting in Brookings in Oct., 1933. For the first time in the history of the school an interclass track and field meet was held on April 17, 1934, with Bunny Everson and Bernard taking high points. We sent four contestants to the Barnard relays and won fourth place. At the Regional track meet in Aberdeen Bunny won first and Bernard second in the mile event. This qualified us to enter the State competition in Sioux Falls, S. D. Local businessmen financed our trip by popular subscription so that Coach Wahl, Everson and Jerde could attend. We were also active in basketball and won the consolation trophy at the Dist. basketball tourney at Hecla on March 2-3 by defeating Bath 44-13. We had a Girls' Glee Club which presented the operetta, "Ghosts of Hilo", on March 9, 1934. Our Senior Class play was, "The Red-Headed Stepchild." It was directed by Hilda Hiedenreich and Lena Bittner and presented on Nov, 17, 1933. Our Junior-Senior Prom was held on May 5, 1934. Who and Where are the 1934 Seniors? Arthur Daly married a schoolmate, Ruth Johnson. They lived on a farm at Daly Corners with their four children. Ruth passed away in 1958. Arty and the children still live on the farm. Lucille Daly worked in Aberdeen for a few years and then married Wilfred Heinz. They had four children and lived on a farm south of Houghton, S.D. Lucille is deceased. Leland Hall was in the C.C.C. Camp at Sand Lake Refuge where he was seriously injured. He spent three years at a Veterans' Hospital. Then he went to work for Hughes Aircraft (now Hughes Tool and Die), in Los Angeles, Calif. He married a schoolmate, Ruby Kleperer, and they live at 4169 Motor Ave., Culver City. Loree Hammond is married to Norwood Hanson and they live at Cavour, S.D. They have thirteen children. Dorothy Holland attended N.S.T.C. and then taught for 3 years. She went back to college to graduate with a B.S. degree. She taught Home Economics, Biology, and General Science at McClusky, N.D. She has worked at a dept. store in Austin, Minn. as a bookkeeper since 1949. She is married to Lawrence B. Heister. Bernard Jerde is in school maintenance at Phoenix, Arizona, where he lives with his wife, the former Lucille Losacker, and their two children. Genevieve Jones is married to Henry Payne. They live at Kansas City, Kansas, where he is a roundhouse car foreman for the C. Great W. Railroad. Genevieve is a dental assistant. Beatrice Rossman is married to Floyd Mann, head shipping clerk in Dye casting. Beatty is a single needle operator in a sportswear factory. They have three children. Orville Rumrey is married to Elva Pierson of Groton, S. Dak. He works in a bank in Chicago, Illinois. Arlene Russell is married to John Page and they live at El Cerrito, Calif. Herbert Schliebe lives in Aberdeen, S.D., where he works for C. D. Lee. He is married to Rosene Oltmann, a teacher in the Aberdeen school system. Reinhardt Schliebe lives with his wife, Tilda, and one son in Los Angeles, Calif. He is time keeper at Rocketdyne, a Corp. of North American Aviation, Inc. He entered the Service in 1936 and was in the European Theatre Oct, 21, 1944, through 1945. He was a prisoner of war in Germany for five months. Esther Yeske is married to John Rawekamp, who is a Ford dealer at Valley City, N.D. They have four children. Esther is a part time nurse at the local hospital. CLASS OF 1935 Twenty-two freshmen enrolled on August 31, 1931. They were the following: Ruby Drier Bunny Everson Vernon Hammond Lois Knecht Stanley Markin Valma Ringgenberg Katherine Russell Augusta Schliebe Irene Schnieder Barbara Voller Myrtle Vitense Robert Wright Leola Wynn Dale Beller Ella Yeske Hillard Beller Gertrude Buntrock Dorthea Bradley Lucille Case Covelle Dennert Ora Dreier Doris Wooner There was so much snow that winter that many of us were brought to school in bob-sleds and most of us had to stay at the rooming house. As sophomores sixteen enrolled but Dale and Hillard Beller, Vernon Hammond, Dorothea Bradley, Lucille Case, Ora Dreier, Leola Wynn, Katherine Russell and Velma Ringgenberg left us. Since there was only one year of high school taught in Houghton, Lois Knecht and Irene Schnieder joined us. We had a good girls' basketball team all four years, and we also had a good boys' team. The boys were second in the District meet and were awarded the Sportsmanship recognition, although no trophy was given. Fifty-two students enrolled in 1934. We were the Juniors and the smallest class. We presented the annual Junior play, "Where's Grandma?", a three act comedy. Our Junior-Senior banquet was held in the old Congregational Church, using a "Nautical Scheme" and colors of silver and blue. The toastmistress was Myrtle Vitense. We could not afford a Prom but we invited the Seniors and Teachers to a movie at the Orpheum Theater. Five enrolled as seniors in 1935. The class officers were: Lois Knecht, Pres.; Myrtle Vitense, Vice Pres.; Irene Schnieder, Sec.-Treas. Our senior play was a comedy, "Jupiter Smiles", held in the old Legion hall on March 14-15, 1935. The Juniors gave us a banquet on April 26. Our colors of green and gold were carried out and the theme was "Spring". The Baccalaureate sermon was given by the Rev. L. Bennett on May 19th. Graduation was held on May 24 and the address was given by Dr. W.A. Thompson of Southern Normal. Our class motto was, "I Ought To - Therefore I Will". The class colors were green and gold and the class flower was the yellow tulip. We were the smallest class to graduate from C.H.S. - five of us. Lois Knecht, "Doe", was Valedictorian of our class. Ella Yeske, "El", was Salutatorian. This was the first year that Columbia had two school dormitories instituted in keeping with the government plan. The government paid $15 a week and each student paid twenty cents a week. The girls' dorm was established in the Hotel, and the boys occupied the Abbott house. There were 10 girls and 6 boys. All meals were taken at the Hotel. Mrs. P. Wenner was the cook; Mrs. L. Gabert was Dean of Girls; and Reese Lawrence was Dean of Boys. Velma Dickerson was R.N. The Glee Club of C.H.S. had been active for many years, but this was the first time in local school history, under the direction of Miss Piltingsrud, that we entered the District music contest in Aberdeen to compete in class C, and received an "Excellent" rating for singing "Beautiful Saviour." These days in school were also known as the "dirty 30's". Many a day we drove to school with our head lights "on", as we could see only a few feet ahead of us. This was also the time that the government was buying cattle from the farmers because there was no feed. Some farmers who had forty or more head sold them down to seven or eight cows. The farmer was paid $20 a head for the best cattle and as low as $5.00 for the poor ones. From our assembly room at high school we could see the farmers driving their herds into town. The old and thin never left town, but were shot and buried in long trenches on the east side of the railroad tracks. The bawling sound of hungry starved cattle is something one will never forget. These were very hard times for our parents and we wonder how they could carry on and still give us an education. Lois Knecht entered Nurses Training at St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, S.D., and became a R.N. She was in the Army Nurses Corps from 1942-45. She married Clarence Carson, a High School Counselor. They live in Aberdeen, S.D. and have three children. Ella Yeske attended N.S.T.C. and became a teacher. She married Merle Grace. They moved to California where she teaches in the Arcata public schools. She attends Humbolt State College almost every summer. They have eight children. Robert Wright known as "Red", returned to school after being out two years, and was one of Coach Wahl's determined baseball players. He is married and has a family. He has his own business on Main street in Zainsville, Ohio, known as Wright Typewriter Exchange. Irene Schnieder is married to Marvin Hanson and they live on a farm in the Columbia-Bath community. They have three sons and one daughter. Myrtle Vitense became a farmer's wife. She is married to Walter Sieber and they live north of Columbia. They have two sons. (Myrtle was called "Shorty" in high school.) CLASS OF 1936 We began our freshman year with 21 in our class. The following were enrolled: Edyth McCammon Dorothy Schliebe Virginia Klepfer Elnora Schliebe Myrtis Vitense Dorothy Payne Lillian Schliebe Alice Eichler Dorothea Bradley Gertrude Nelson Dean Elliott Wilbur Wockenfuss George Chase Vern Wynn Delores Wilke Monica Felix Ruth Zastrow Wilma Krause Vineta Jackson Camilla Jerde As sophomores, Donald Clark joined us but we lost Ruth, Dorothy S., Marietta, Gertrude, Wilma, and Dorothea. As Juniors, we were without Vern, Dorothy Payne, and Camilla, but gained Eugene. We presented a class play, "Fingerprints", in the Legion Hall. We had our Junior-Senior banquet in the Congregational Church parlors, and George Chase was toastmaster. We had the prom in the gym. When we were seniors we gained Lorene, Lydia, Elna, Eunice, and John Schliebe. Later John dropped out. The Junior-Senior banquet was at Tietjen's dining room in Aberdeen, on May 8, 1936. We presented a play called "Bachelor House." The Rev. H. Lindgren gave our Baccalaureate sermon on May 17. Our Commencement address was given by Dr. R. C. Keagy from the Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Our class motto was, "We Can, We Must, We Will". The class colors were red and old gold and the flower was the red rose. George Chase was Valedictorian and Alice Eichler was Salutatorian. These were the graduates: Wilbur Wockenfuss is a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. He plans to retire in two years. He is married to Adele Kelley and they have two children. They live in Mooresville, Indiana. While serving in the Armed Forces, he was a prisoner of war in Germany. Elnora Schliebe is married to Art Roush and they live in Lynnwood, California. Edyth McCammon is married to Ralph Moes. She is teaching at Wahpeton, N. D. After receiving her teacher's certificate, she taught in Columbia for six years. Delores Wilke is married to Walter Yeske. They live in Aberdeen, S. D. and they have two sons. She works at the Olwin-Angell store in Aberdeen. Myrtis Vitense is married to John Daly and they live on a farm near Columbia. They have one daughter. Lillian Schliebe is married to Milton Schumacher and they live in Aberdeen, S.D. Lorene Daly is married to Chet Hanson and they have one daughter. They live in Olympia, Wash. Alice Eichler is married to Martin Wegehaupt and they live in Danville, Ill. They have four children. They both teach school. Eunice Herther is married to Harold Tollefson and lives at Richmond, S. D. They have four children. Lydia Schliebe married Vern Ronnekemp and they live at Gothenberg, Nebr. They have five children. Dean Elliott lives in Eugene, Oregon. He and his wife, Betty, have three daughters. He is a postal employee. Elna Wahl is married to Stanley Markin and they have two children. They live in Long Beach, Calif. Vineta Jackson is married to Ervin Milbrandt and they live on a farm near Columbia. They have one son. She attended N.S.T.C. Donald Clark is deceased. Virginia Klepfer died on April 19, 1946. Our class submits this history in memory of these two classmates who have left us.