RHS Class of 1967 has great reunion

The Ritzville High School Class of 1967 had terrific attendance for their No. 45 reunion. Thirty-two class members, along with several spouses, attended one or all of the weekend events.

On Friday night, some classmates ate dinner together at the Bowling Alley; a large group gathered for the reunion on Saturday afternoon at the home of Dave and Carla Braun and then also attended the Alumni Banquet.

On Sunday, several classmates ate breakfast together at the Cow Creek Deli.

There were 58 classmates who graduated in 1967, and six have passed away including: Jeff Koch, Gerald “Jerry” Kulm, Pat Bauer, Ron Janzen, Trudi Miller Abell and Linda Jacky.

The decreased classmates were remembered by a photo display at the reunion. Mr. Herb Janzen, Ron’s father, attended the reunion.

In honor of her son, Mrs. Normadine Kulm provided the classmates with a patriotic decorated writing pen inscribed with “Sgt. Gerald A. Kulm, Post 11446, Ritzville, WA.” Jerry was killed while serving his country in Vietnam.

A large group from the Class of 1967 displayed their support for the Alumni Association by attending the Alumni Banquet, but also by donating over $1,000 toward the purchase of new tables and chairs.

After the banquet, class members got to autograph the bottom of one of the new tables.

Terry Tufts and Jeanne Benzel Englund also volunteered their time on Saturday, at the Train Depot, to greet visitors who viewed the Alumni Memorabilia collection and scrapbooks.

Most of the classmates at the reunion live in Washington or Idaho, but Terry Tufts traveled from New Orleans and Carl Eckhardt and his wife Linda, came from Sun City West, Arizona. Pat Waln Ross, from Everett, Wash., was a classmate from junior high years, and she attended several events with the class over the weekend.

Mrs. Laverne Kautz and Mrs. Jeanne Schrag, both from Ritzville, visited with class members at the Brauns’ home.

Those attending the reunion and included in the photo in The Journal:

Judy Crossler, Pam Bauer VanWinkle, Kathy Beale Ream, Jeanne Benzel Englund, Margie Montague Gannon, Anita Benzel Walli, Hazelynne Telecky Floyd, Hannalore Graf Hoffman, Pamm Tuffield Horbit, Pat Waln Ross (former classmate), Kathy Werth Katz, Carmen Davis Schumann, Rennie Kubik, Jeff Selcho, Mike Schwisow, Mike Schrag, Vicki Kautz Ferderer, Pat Mitchell, Madeline Kagele Erickson, Hugh Gannon, Carl Eckhardt, Alton Leisle, Steve Wellsandt, Steve Maier, Butch Burroughs, Terry Tufts, Jerry Dyck, Les Allert, Dave Braun, Allan Little, Bruce Benzel, and Dennis McGarry.

Also attending the class reunion, but not available for The Journal photo was Steve Heimbigner.

It was such a successful reunion, that the Class of 1967 is already planning fun events for their No. 50 reunion in 2017!

Jeanne Benzel Englund and Class of 1967