Susan G Pearson

I was in Mr. Dietz's class too, and remember so well his ashen face when he told us that JFK had been shot.   Went to to Mrs. Hall's English class next--we were taking a test when it was announced that he was dead, and incredibly she made us continue taking the test!

Sally Eckman (Lynch)

I was in Mr. Thorsen's history class as well when the announcement was made that our President had been shot.   Then in study hall the next hour, the announcement over the intercom was that President Kennedy had died.   We were all in such a state of shock, I'm sure I cried and then I remember going home and watching tv the whole weekend and the school gave us a day off to watch the funeral on tv.     My family was glued to the tv for any news and then to see Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald on live tv was something I will never forget as well and of course it was the end to not knowing why he did it, was he involved with anyone else, etc.    It was like watching a reality show today only in 1963.   

My friend just went to her 50th class reunion in Pittsburgh and she attended a very small Catholic high school with 90 classmates.    Their class president was named Larry and he was absent that day and when the nun said "our president has been shot", someone in the back row of the class my girlfriend was in yelled out "Who would shoot Larry"?????   OMG, My girlfriend said everyone else in the classroom couldn't believe that some one could really believe that it was "their class president who had been shot and not the President of the United States".    She said that from then on their motto was "think globally, not locally".    Another boy in her class saw Larry later that day and hugged him, started crying,  and said "I thought you were dead"!!!!    Again, what can I say.    It's hysterical to think about this happening.    Glad that we in White Bear Lake, Class of 1964 were smarter than the average bear.....haha   It makes me think of all of the horrific school shootings since I believe the first at Columbine and all of them since, too numerous to count, and we should all be thankful that we grew up in an age where we weren't afraid to go to school, nor ride our bikes all over, and that we were safe in our wonderful suburb of White Bear Lake.

Sally Eckman Lynch

Carl Bourdon

WOW! What a turn out for the 1964 class reunion Friday meet and greet. The place was packed with over 130+ people attending. They came from far and wide: CA, IL, UT, that I met.

Thank you Lyle, your efforts were appreciated.

David Clarke

The reunion was even more than I had anticipated. So many events in our lives turn out to be less than we had hoped for because we frequently set aspirations impossibly high. I could have not have had a better time with everyone I saw and talked to. We had such a wonderful group of people with whom we shared those years and I can't imagine having lived in a better city at a better time than we did. I sincerely thank each one of you who came and made the weekend so special. I have carried such great memories for all of these years many going back for 60+ years and each of you helped form me during those early! important years.

Thanks to the committee for doing a perfect job. I think it would have been easy to try and create more events in but The most important part of this reunion was seeing and sharing. You guys, of course including Lyle, were Primo!

From my heart, Dave Clarke

Shirley T Pederson (Mastel)

I agree with Dave.  The reunion was a great time.  I'm always unsure if I'll go, having not seen anyone for so many years, but Saturday night the years just melted away.  It was a time to say things you never had a chance to say years ago and hear memories others had that you may have forgotten.  It was great to see everyone. Maybe we can plan another one in less than 50 years tho!!

Wendy Werlein (DeGuise)

What a wonderful time at the reunion. It was a fantastic time. A great big Thank you to the reunion committee for a job well done. I enjoyed seeing everyone once again and reconnecting with some people I had lost track of. We are a wonderful class of people.

Ray Schlosser

Hats off to the reunion committee,  you all did a fantastic job.   I too feel as though the years had melted away for the evening.   So many faces and stories.   Some were easily recognized and some not so easily.   I like to think they are traces of our lives.  I enjoyed seeing and talking to so many of you, and sadly did not get to see all that I would have liked to.  Maybe next time.   To all those who have gone to a better place.... I know they were there with us.  In spirit and in our hearts.   til next time,  may we all make it again.   Ray Schlosser

Lynn M Bailey (Swenson)

I had a wonderful time at the reunion--I think we all did.  It was great to see everyone.  I have to say something about the  Committee.  I was so embarrassed to stand up and be counted as a member of the Committee.  I came on the Committee very late after all the work was done, so I feel I can say this as a sort of "insider" without praising myself.  This group of hard working people did a great job.  I know how hard they worked to make last Friday and Saturday night a success.  Anyone who has ever put on a large event like a wedding or a meeting can appreciate what goes into it.  Hats off to them!  Hours of their own time and money as well as all the apprehension that something might go wrong--it was all flawless as far as I could see.  Thanks so much!!!

James Wilcox Dimmers

Five days later I am still searching for the right word combinations to express how I feel about our reunion!. I'll be back when I return to planet Earth! For now please accept~~~THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charles Kieffer

One of my favorite quotes goes something like this" we often don't remember the importance of a moment, event or experience until it becomes a memory". This seems appropriate to me because over this past weekend   many of my old classmates/friends said to me "do you remember_________". When the question about a specific moment or event was asked all of a sudden the memory crystallized in your mind and it felt important. The memories that surfaced brought us back to a pleasant time when life seemed so much easier, less stressful and the world was mostly at peace. 

I too want to express my heart felt appreciation for all who contributed to this successful gathering of old friends.  A special thanks to our comedic class officers, the reunion committee and Al Hodder for his willingness to keep this reunion website active. 

Richard Millington

I think just today my smile muscles stopped being sore.  Both Friday and Saturday night events were incomparable, and I saw more old friends I hadn’t seen in years than I could have possibly anticipated.  And you are all so exceptionally good looking.  We were the first of the baby-boomers, the offspring of the “Greatest Generation”, we’ve seen tremendous changes in our lifetimes, and I believe we were brought up right, under the influence of one of the best towns in the USA, and we all turned out to be outstanding citizens.

My thanks to all the committee members for the sheer joy.  God bless your hearts. 

Rick Millington

Clint Dufresne

What a great experience seeing everyone one after all this time.  I enjoyed it all. The school tour was a highlight I will never forget. What a trip back in time. Thanks to the committee and Al Hodder for bring this all together. My wife even had a good time. GOOD JOB!!!! I am so glad I was able to attend.  I was suprised how some people were immediately recognisable. Like Ross Anderson. I knew who he was when he walked in the room. Others, you needed the name tag but ater two minutes of talkig to them it was like you went back 50 years and you would see the face and personallity you remembered. WHAT A TRIP!!!!

Blessings to All,

Clint Dufresne

Suzan Stone (Hurlburt)

I agree with what everyone wrote.  I don't think there has been a better reunion.  And to end this great time I spent about 4 hours on White Bear Lake on a pontoon yesterday with Elaine and Jim Dimmers.  What a beautiful time and weather.  I don't want it to end!!!  Thanks to all who made it happen.

Pat Gove (Proctor)

I agree with everything that has been written. I am so glad I came back for this reunion. The school tour on Saturday morning was so wonderful. I think the best part for us all was seeing the auditorium. It was the only place that still looked the same. So many memories brought up by different people and pictures passed around. Hope we have another reunion soon, just less than fifty years. HA, HA!

Patricia J Schmitz (Hall)

I thoroughly enjoyed my evenings with the Class of 64.  I echo the previous comments from good to see everyone, to being brought up in a great place at a great time, to the super job the committee did in providing the venue, food and opportunities to walk and talk down memory lane.  I am grateful to have lived, loved, and known the people that helped to shape our lives and memories.  Thank you everyone that attended, wore your name tags and said hello.  Let's keep this spirit alive.  Love to all, Pat(ty) Schmitz Hall

Barbara J Hughes (Williams)

I am happy you all had so much fun! I was planning to attend, but other priorities got in the way at the last minute.  I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one!

Karen J Atchison (Arcand)

I very much enjoyed the tour of our school, some seemed the same and was a trigger to a few memories.

The reunion was like everyone has commented, wonderful. A huge Thank You to all of the classmates who put in so many hours over the many months getting ready for this. You did Great! Good to see and talk with so many. Bless You All till we meet again. Karen Atchison (Arcand)

James Wilcox Dimmers

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 50th CLASS OF '64 REUNION

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It was something about seeing people that were more than just your former classmates in the same school at the same time, it was reconnecting with some folks you have longer than 60 years experience with. It was the thrill of not knowing who was going to walk up to you next and whether you'd need to read their name tag or not. Age lays well on  our class, so many people looked even healthier than before, way back! We're spread apart far and wide now but there remains  a golden thread which winds itself around and throughout the Class of '64 that has never broken. How quickly the years melted away when someone stopped and called us by name, how swiftly memories surfaced reminding us that although our lives moved on after June 4th, 1964, something remained in tack.

 I think in part it has been  that big gorgeous lake that dominated our lives then and now, Elaine, Suzie and I wound up our reunion stretch of days with a 4 hour trek on a pontoon around the whole of White Bear Lake. It isn't so obvious how the lake has shrunken when you're out on it, of course the shock shows itself from place to place but it is less obvious than when standing on shore. Oh my goodness, the wild and funny stories that hopped out of each of us as we rounded the bend from bay to bay! We DID grow up in a safe environment at a fabulous time. First year Baby-Boomers were blessed with much we probably still don't know about. However, our class reunion reminded me of many many of the perks, as they say, and how very fortunate I was to grow up in the place I did with the kind of people who were there!

The only thing I saw wrong with this weekend was how fast the time went! The Committee gave us a gift that will last forever,  THANK YOU for your many hours of devoted work to see this event happen without a hitch! It was superb in every detail! 

There are too many folks I never got the chance to speak with and somehow  and hopefully that might happen yet. Right now I cannot think about that because each day has been a savoring of those exchanges I did share! So many, so satisfying, so splendid, so little time to tell how much they mean to me and say proper thanks to them for how they influenced my life!

God Bless each and every one of you and may you have everything you need and a WHOLE LOT of what you want! Stay healthy and be well!

Warmly, Jim D.

David Clarke

Absolutely perfect, Jim!

Lynn M Bailey (Swenson)

Well said, Jim!

Julie Dybdal (Glesne)

Oh Jim...you do have a way with words! My regret is that I didn't get to talk to you more:( I did LOVE your book with the gorgeous  paintings of the beautiful St Croix !  Cheryl shared it with us. What an artist you are! 

Every day ... I amtelling with my husband another story or joy that  pops in my head from the weekend. The  memories shared with poeple I talked to...what fun! Thanks to the committee who made it all happen and to all our classmates who were there at our 50!!!

Julie Dybdal Glesne

Kathleen D Carlisle (Watson)

I too, want to thank the committee for all their hard work.  I am so thankful that I did make the trip as I have not been back to Mn since the 30th reunion.  While I was there I remembered that we had a book from the 10 yr so when I got home I went and looked for it.  It was sitting right on my bookshelf just waiting along with the 20th, 25th and 30th which I had fogotten about.  I have a little quirk and love to look at numbers.  I took the books and did a little research.   Here are some facts with numbers

                                        10yr            20yr         25yr        30yr. 

Responded to survey    234              165             85         59

Had Kids                       110              157

Number of kids              281             433  

Out of State address       75               92             95           97

Number of states             23               30             26          30

Number of countries        3                  2               1            1  (This inclued our exchange student from Sweden)

Hope some of you will enjoy the info.

Was wonderful to see everyone

God Bless You All.

Kathy Carlisle

Ken Dennis

I've been following to progress of the preparations for the  reunion and the responces from those that attended it.  I came so close to making it to reunion myself and regret missing this opportunity.  I was in Minnesota from August 17th to September 9th and originally planned on being there.  Unfortunately too many things appeared on my plate and I had to return to Oregon.

The work that went into putting the reunion together is amazing and I've enjoyed reading the comments posted to the website.

I did, however, have an opportunity to meet with Jim Dimmers while I was in Marine On St. Croix taking care of some family business and it was one of the highlights of my trip.

I wish everyone well.  Feel free to contact me if you're ever in the Portland area.

BTW, how long will the website stay up?

Allen S Hodder

This website will stay up forever.  We're not done having reunions.  While they may not be as big as the 50th, we'll gather at least once a year, and the classmates will figure out what to do about the 55th.

All the hard work of finding everyone is over.  This website will keep the class together, and that's the beauty of it.  From this website, emails can be sent free.  I have a list of about 15 without computers, and sending them letters is not that expensive.

Good times await our future.

Thomas W Brink

9/21/14

What a treat it was to see so many people at the reunion.  The wonderful things about "growing up" after high school is that we can meet again, toss away the things we'd sooner forget, and focus on memories and what has happened since high school.

I reconnected with people whom I did not know well, James Wilcox Dimmers, in particular, and am the richer for it.  What an amazing soul he turned out to be.  Would you like to see his work?  http://www.jameswilcoxdimmers.com will take you there.

I got to give my prom date the hug that she did not get after the prom.  "Awkward" would be too kind a word to describe my social skills in 1964.  (Barb, you may insert as many other adjectives as come to mind.  They are all too true.)

I was finally able to tell Connie Waugh Hamilton how much I admired her piano skills in high school, and remind Don Hamilton that I saw his work from junior high school at the State Fair and marvled that a 13 year old could make furniture that looked that good.  Don and Connie have been married for nearly 50 years, I believe.

I learned that Julie Dybdal made the cheerleading squad and gave it up for "Bud" Engen to remain in the choir without having the vocal strain of cheering.  While she doesn't regret it now, she agonized at the time.

Kathy Carlisle, whose fuzzy sweaters I loved to sit next to in Miss Skjelset's biology class, had no idea how fond I was of them, while I had no recall of a peck on the cheek when she did well on a biology diagram that I apparently had helped her to complete.

I heard the story of Dan Seebart's going to West Point, a story I'd never heard before.  How about his marrying "the girl next door," literally?  Not bad, Dan, and you're still married to her her after all these years.

I caught up with Ginger and Carolyn, and found that Mary Ellen Thomas remembers the words to "Goodbye, Jimmy, Goodbye," the first song I danced to in 7th grade at a dance in the old gym in the "old building" when Miss Barkus almost dragged me onto the dance floor.  I have no idea with whom I danced, but I do remember the song.  Thanks, Mary Ellen.  It almost makes the agony of 7th grade relationships worthwhile.

I was able to say "hello" to Janis Lester without feeling as if I was in another social class altogether.  I wonder if she remembers asking me on more than one occasion to tie the tie for her band uniform.  I do, that's for sure.  It was really "cool" to be able to do that.

There were others with whom I spoke and I hope you won't feel slighted, Toad, Chuck, Bob, Jim, Dave, Creech, and still more if I don't mention the conversations individually.

Hats off to Al Hodder, who busted his "you know what" to get all the information that was needed to pull this event off.  Thanks to Lyle Parin, who didn't live to see the result of his hard work.  We missed you.

And where were Bill Newell, Stephanie Bodene, Ellen McGowan, and Bill Mullin when I needed them?  Darn.  They would have made the event an even richer experience.

Finally, thanks to all of you.  You proved that, while you can never go home again, you can establish new relationships and renew old friendships, almost as if you had never left in the first place.  The reunion was a grand experience.  Thank you all for coming.  Thank you all for making lots of people leave with warm thoughts and fond memories.

Maybe we were not only the "Class of '64," but also the "class" of '64 in 2014.