Riggs High Class of '63
2018
55th Reunion
September 13-16, 2018
Classmates
Upper Staircase, top to bottom: Jim Leonard, Milton Morris, Mark Simmons, Jerry McQuay, Carol Butler Jones, Jerry Big Eagle, Mike Pellerzi (hidden)
Landing, right to left: Ron Olesen, Dennis Naasz, Carol Pyncheon Whitney, Peggy Owens Rath
Lower Staircase, top to bottom: Ruth Ann Spicer Stenberg, Tony Lucas, Julianne Thomas, Al Freiberg, Maxine Otto Tessier, Vicky Hansen Milbrandt, Paula Volk Hunsley, John Whitney, Nina Colbert Maxfield, Dick Lamster (hidden), Eva Olson Hageman, Joe Hanson
Front Row, left to right: Jim Whitney, Jerry Hunsley, Earl Sherburne, Dan Neiles, Mike Harris
Dick Lamster Mike Pellerzi
Spouses
Back row, left to right: Byrdi Naasz, Lee Maxfield, Dawn Morris, Rosie Olesen, Richard Jones, Gordo Milbrandt
Front Row, left to right: Diane Big Eagle, Gloria Simmons, Sonja Sherburne, Rose Harris, Janice Lucas, Sally Hanson
55 Year Reunion Attendees
Diane & Jerry Big Eagle Richard Jones & Nina Colbert Maxfield
Carol Butler Jones & Lee Maxfield
Al Freiberg Gordo Milbrandt & Sally Hanson & Joe Hanson
Vicky Hansen Milbrandt
Mike & Rose Harris Paula Volk Hunsley & Dick Lamster
Jerry Hunsley
Jim Leonard Janice & Tony Lucas Jerry McQuay
Milt & Dawn Morris Dennis & Byrdi Naasz Dan Neiles
Rosie & Ron Olesen Eva Olson Hageman Maxine Otto Tessier
Peggy Owens Rath Mike Pellerzi Carol Pyncheon Whitney
& Jim Whitney
Earl & Sonja Sherburne Gloria & Mark Simmons Ruth Ann Spicer Stenberg
Julianne Thomas
John Whitney
Reunion Hotel
The ClubHouse Hotel & Suites was the venue for the reunion. This is the
second reunion we had at the ClubHouse. We were very pleased
with the accommodations, food, and all the extras the hotel provided,
especially use of the Presidential Suite for our Thursday night early bird
gathering and further gatherings during the weekend.
A Pierre Welcome
As classmates arrived in Pierre, they were greeted by signs welcoming them.
Signs were posted at DJ's Clark and Shel's Gas Stop, both on Sioux Avenue.
Reunion Synopsis
Twenty-six classmates, fifteen spouses, and some classmate friends from
10 different states gathered in Pierre September 13-16, 2018 to celebrate
the 55 year reunion of the Class of '63. Classmates came Alabama, Arizona,
Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,
Tennessee, and Washington to join in the celebration. We had a weekend filled
with various events and and enjoyed getting reacquainted with one another.
Thursday Night Ice Breaker
We met for our first event in the Presidential Suite at the ClubHouse Hotel on
Thursday night for an "ice breaker" hosted by our classmate Julianne Thomas.
It was a great opportunity for us to visit and get reacquainted with one anther.
Booklets and photo albums from previous reunions were available for everyone
to look at. We enjoyed the food and beverages provided by Julianne, but enjoyed
even more our stroll down memory lane, which made the gathering even more special.
Friday Afternoon Registration
Friday afternoon we set up in the lobby of the Clubhouse
for the reunion registration and greeted classmates
as they arrived for the reunion.
Friday Night Tailgate Party
We scheduled this reunion to coincide with the Pierre Governor’s homecoming so
we gathered at Drifter’s, which is located right on the water on the Ft. Pierre side
of the river, for a tailgate party before we headed to the football game. Using a
football theme, Paula Volk Hunsley and Jerry Hunsley did an awesome
job decorating for the tailgate party. They were very creative with the
decorations and everyone commented and appreciated their
decorating skills and how great the decorations were. Even
an aging Mr. G made an appearance.
Nina Colbert Maxfield and Lee Maxfield provided a cake in the shape
of a football field for dessert, which added that extra special touch
to the dinner and tailgate party.
Friday Night Governor’s Football Game
We headed to Trautner Field after the tailgate party for the homecoming
game, where the Governor’s hosted the Huron Tigers. The Class of '63
had a reserved section on the south side of the stadium at about the 40 yard
line, so we were in a good viewing area to watch the game. Pierre took an early
lead in the game and never gave up the lead, defeating the Tigers 34-7. After
the game, we gathered in the Presidential Suite at the ClubHouse.
Saturday Morning Oahe Dam Tour
Thanks to Jerry Hunsley, we had a very unique opportunity to tour the Oahe
Dam Saturday morning. Since the events of 911, tours of federal dams and
most other federal facilities had been halted due to security concerns.
However, since Jerry worked at the dam, he requested and received permission
to give us a personal guided tour. Many classmates who toured the dam
either had fathers who worked on the dam or they themselves worked there.
It was very interesting to hear their stories of what it was like during the
dam construction. Jerry took us behind the scenes of the dam and was an
excellent tour guide. We appreciated the opportunity to tour the dam.
Saturday Afternoon Distillery Tour
In case you didn’t know, there is a distillery in Pierre called Dakota Spirits Distillery.
It is locally owned and operated by the Rounds brothers (aka The Bickering
Brothers) and is located near the airport. It is South Dakota’s first
legal distillery. Their specialties are whiskey, vodka, and brandy. Saturday
afternoon we had a chance to tour their facility and sample and purchase
their products. It was interesting to hear how the distillery came to
be and how their products are made.
Saturday Night Dinner
We met Saturday night in the Highland Hills Ballroom at the ClubHouse for dinner.
Before dinner we gathered in the ClubHouse lobby for group photos and then
headed over to the Ballroom.
Joe Hanson welcomed everyone to the reunion and thanked the reunion committee
for their work in putting the reunion together; Julianne Thomas for hosting the
early bird gathering on Thursday night; Paula (Volk) Hunsley and Jerry
Hunsley for providing the decorations for the tailgate party; Nina (Colbert) and
Lee Maxfield for providing the football cake on Friday night; and Jerry Hunsley
for setting up and guiding the tour at Oahe Dam on Saturday morning. He also
thanked all those who donated door prizes.
Mike Harris, Class President, was the master of ceremonies. After dinner, on behalf
of the Class of '63, Mike dedicated the reunion to the 50 deceased members of our class
and paid tribute to them. He then went through the yearbook person by person and
invited us to share something we remembered about each person, i.e., a favorite
memory, where that person is now, or anything else they wanted to share about
that person. Everyone enjoyed hearing about each classmate and what made
each classmate so special and memorable.
We then had a short discussion on when and where to have the next reunion
and whether any one else wanted to take over as reunion chair. No one had
an interest in taking over as chair so Joe & Sally Hanson will continue
to do that.
Discussion was had about having the next reunion in two years or five years. The vote
was evenly split but after further discussion it was decided to have the next
reunion in Pierre in five years (2023), with the date and place to be determined
by the reunion committee.
Before we ended the evening, Dick Lamster did the drawings for the door prizes. We had
a great variety of door prizes that were donated. The door prizes outnumbered the
attendees so some went home with more than one door prize.
Sunday Breakfast
All good things must come to an end so we ended our reunion Sunday morning
in the breakfast room at the ClubHouse where we gathered for a
farewell breakfast, shared many more good memories and laughs,
and said our goodbyes.
Thank You
We would like to thank the following who helped make the 55 year
reunion successful and memorable for all of us. The Reunion Committee
for their assistance in putting this reunion together.
Without their help, the reunion would not be possible.
Nina Colbert Maxfield & Lee Maxfield
Joe & Sally Hanson
Mike Harris
Jerry Hunsley & Paula Volk Hunsley
Dick Lamster
Maxine Otto Tessier
Julianne Thomas
A special thank you to Julianne Thomas for hosting the Thursday night gathering,
Nina Colbert Maxfield and Lee Maxfield for furnishing the football cake at
the tailgate party, Paula Volk Hunsley & Jerry Hunsley for furnishing the awesome
football decorations for the tailgate party, and Jerry Hunsley for arranging and
guiding the tour of Oahe Dam.
The following who donated door prizes:
Jerry & Diane Big Eagle
Nina Colbert Maxfield & Lee Maxfield
Vicky Hansen Milbrandt & Gordo Milbrandt
Joe & Sally Hanson
Mike & Rose Harris
Jerry Hunsley & Paula Volk Hunsley
Dick Lamster
Milt & Dawn Morris
Dennis & Byrdi Naasz
Dan Neiles
Maxine Otto Tessier
Mark & Gloria Simmons
Julianne Thomas
Mary Tyler Zulk
Nina (Colbert) & Lee Maxfield, Al Freiberg, Sally Hanson, and Dick Lamster
for the wonderful memories caught in the photos they took and sent to us for
inclusion in the web page. And most of all, the classmates, spouses, guests,
and friends who attended and shared the weekend with us.
Thank you for the good times,
the days you filled with pleasure.
Thank you for fond memories,
and for feelings we’ll always treasure.
Thanks for the memories!