Wednesday, June 02, 2010
June 2010 Discussion
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Hi Dianne:
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you after all these years. Karen Fischer mentioned your name in a recent email to several classmates and indicated that she still kept in touch with you, even though you left Marcus in 8th Grade - right? (Several of us are trying to get together in Des Moines in August so I'll send on details through Karen as I don't have contact info for you. Hope you can join us. It should be fun.)
I have a great memory of you and your mom, though, from your Marcus days. You guys hosted a boy/girl party at your house, in the basement, I believe in 8th grade. It was the first one I had ever attended and I suspect that was true for the rest of the boys given how we all reacted. Your mom had decorated (colored lights as I recall - no strobe lights yet), music was playing, food was out and despite your mom's gentle suggestion that we mingle, as I recall the boys were the wallflowers that evening. I think we were terrified that we would be expected to dance. "The Twist" was all the rage. Remember how we were all told to act like we were drying off with a towel and putting out a cigarette butt with our foot and we could dance just like they did on "American Bandstand"!
I think it took the guys until about our freshman year in high school before we were willing to give it a go and by then, or a couple of years later, when "The Fabulous Flippers" came to the Cobblestone in Storm Lake playing "Harlem Shuffle" most of us had figured out this girl thing was just the ticket.
But it was your mom in 8th Grade who tried to show us the way. Tell her hi for me and thanks all these years later for her efforts.
Hey Fred ...
ReplyDeleteI do remember that "party" ... and probably more to the story than I should share! Although mom started the "ice breaker parties" at our house ... we also had a couple more of them, but all with the same results. I think mom's ulterior motive was to let me see my "boyfriend" (John Fry) and she could chaperone the whole date! But, the results were exactly as you said ... Ahhh, but the ... the Fabulous Flippers also came to the Val Air in Des Moines (I was living in Indianola then)... and FINALLY you boys started to get things figured out!!!
I'll share the story with her, she'll love it; and she'll probably have her own "spin" to it.
She certainly enjoyed the visit to Marcus Monday. It was a very special Memorial Day!
Karen asked if she could share my email address with you guys ... and I'm sure she will.. but, if you want to add it to your list now ...... diannej0212@gmail.com and let me know when you're planning the get together...
I'd love to try to be there!
Dianne
Great to hear from you, Dianne. I've added you to the list for the get together this summer. Incidentally, as you may or may not know, John Fry is with the Delphian School in Sheridan, Oregon now. I'm not sure what he does and haven't spoken with him in years, but Bobby Garvin stays in touch with him and gives the rest of us updates periodically. If you are interested, check out that school's website. It is impressive.Vicki Mead (now Ropp)is organizing the event in Des Moines. We'll get details to you soon.
ReplyDeleteFred
Have learned that Chuck Beaton died May 24 in Tempe AR. He orgaainized the Marcus Picnic in Tempe for years.
ReplyDeleteServices were held there. Another service and burial will be held in Marcus at a later date.
Bob Reed
Fred, wasn't Bobby Garvin known as Bobby Joe at that time?
ReplyDeleteToday was the last day of school for MMC students. Hard to believe the school year is over. My daughter & her friend decided to have a pop stand today in front of our house. They had a good time selling pop to people. They made about $15.00 in just a few hours. I want to thank the people that stopped and bought some pop from them. They had so much fun and when they counted their earnings they were pretty happy.
ReplyDeleteGreat memory - yes, he was "Bobby Joe" for some.
ReplyDeletesomeone's been posting flames so I had to turn on active moderating. But this link regarding Marcus-area hog thefts was submitted by an anonymous poster. Thought I'd share it. http://www.ktiv.com/global/story.asp?s=12607599
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad, sad story that didn't really need to be spread. Some are good kids from good families who were somehow led astray. Proof that sin is always a part of our world, I guess. We can only hope that they face up to their problems, take the consequences and move on from there, hopefully profiting from their mistakes. My prayers are with them all.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Dorr
There were others involved in another ring but those charges were dropped when one of the parents made restitution. Hopefully those kids will learn the correct lessons as well, and not that if you have powerful parents you can get away with anything. That's the trouble with today’s kids they don't have parents who stand behind the authority.
ReplyDeleteI remember getting into trouble with the authority as a teenager and being more afraid of my parents than I was of the police. Today many kids are taught to disrepect authority by there parents. Many believe there kid is always right and that the police and other authority figures are wrongfully accusing there kids.
Ron Rosewall
Just wanted to let everyone know about a couple of family oriented events coming up.
ReplyDelete"The Great Marcus Bike Ride" is June 13th. Meet at the firestation at 6:30pm. Someone will talk about bike safety first then the bike ride is 1.8 miles around Marcus. Water and ice cream will be served after the ride.
"Family Fun Night" is on June 16th from 5-8pm at the city park/fairgrounds area. Hotdog, chips & drink - $2. Rootbeer floats and camel apples will also be sold. Bingo w/prizes, rock climbing wall, kids train, inflatable jumper, and assorted carnival games. Junior Pearson's Implement Musuem will be open and motorcycles will be displayed. Tickets for the games & activities are (4) - $1. Bring a non-perishable food item and receive (4) tickets.
These 2 events are sponsored by Marcus For Progress and Local Businesses. Hope to see you there.
Jackie Johnson
Saw this in the Marcus News and wanted to congratulate my clssmates, Faith and John Bentz on their awesome new claim to fame:
ReplyDeleteOne of the top 10 places to get a hamburger in Iowa!
I'd have to believe that's quite an accomplishment in Beef Country -- well deserved and a nice advertising campaign in the making there!
How about pulling together to bring some happiness and caring to one of our longtime former teachers?
ReplyDeleteKeith Benton is now a resident at the Heartland Care Center (604 East Fenton St., Marcus 51035) and has to take several kidney dialysis treatments weekly in Sioux City. The treatments and travel really get him down. Being down is not the first thing I think of in reference to Keith.
Now if you had Keith as a teacher or a coach as I did at Anthon-Oto, you have to have some good memories to share with him. How about the wall to wall floor to ceiling calendars in the class room and the fact that everybody got to play in every sport in junior high.
I know Keith would enjoy hearing your memories of the good old days, or knowing that you are a fan of his beloved Rockies. Help to make his day brighter and pass the word around.
Thanks,
Mavis Diment
Anthon-Oto grad and MHS and MMC teacher-librarian-speech and quiz bowl coach (retired!!)
P.S. I'm sorry to tell you that the often told story about how Oto got
it's name is not true--but there's no denying it's a great story!
Mavis----Thanks for alerting us about Keith. Then,too, for those of us who haven't heard it, what is the story about how Oto got its name. Would love to hear it whether it's true or not.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Dorr
Anyone have a stamp collection that they would be willing to share with the residents at Heartland?
ReplyDelete-Jamie Johnson
Hi, Margaret, The Oto story is that the name came about when an old Indian tripped on a big rock and exclaimed, "Oh, toe!" This story goes with a huge rock that can be seen on the highway going south out of Oto.
ReplyDeleteWhen the in-coming freshmen found out that I was from Anthon-Oto, their first question was always whether Mr. Benton's story was true!
Thanks for asking,
Mavis Diment
Keith Benton was one of the nicest teachers I ever had in 8th grade. Sorry to hear his health is giving him trouble.
ReplyDeleteK. Dorr
Hi Mavis,
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! I never had Mr. Benton as a teacher but he did coach girls basketball. I know there are a lot of former BBers out thare who have good memories about their BB days -- even if they spent most of it watching the games from the bench like me. :) Hope you are doing well!
Looking back, I found a Pen Sketch I wrote many years ago about Keith Benton. I had been watching him on the practice field next to our house some 13 years after he had first come to Marcus in 1953. Out there coaching middle school footballers, he was as fit & trim as a 20-year-old. I went on to describe his classroom. Among other things, he was a collector and had inspired the kids to collect current calendars. There were 100 on the walls. They included Currier&Ives prints, one of Indian culture, another of Black heroes and others, all chosen to increase his students' knowledge of the world around them. These had become a skilful teaching tool in the hands of a master social studies teacher.
ReplyDeleteBut back to his coaching--from Little League, through football, basketball and track, he was a part of it all. Keith not only laid an early understanding of the basic skills, he also taught the kids so much about themselves, about winning and losing, and playing the game. Encouragement and a pat on the back were at the heart of his philosophy. No one ever heard him yell at a kid or put one down in front of others. In turn the youngsters never called him anything but Mr. Benton or Coach. He respected them and they respected him.
May these memories help brighten your difficult days, Coach Benton, and may peace be with you.
Margaret Dorr
PS Will someone please be certain this message reaches the Coach? Thank you.
To my former English teacher:
ReplyDeleteSorry about the typos in my post! It has more to do with the fact that I misplaced my reading glasses than my spelling. :)
Margaret,
ReplyDeleteI printed off your post and took it to Heartland this afternoon and saw that it was delivered to Keith's room.
Pat Ducommun
Thanks so much, Pat!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Dorr
If anyone is in the Chicago area next weekend I invite you to Willow Creek Church in Barrington, IL to hear Mike Singletary speak. Willow Creek is one of the most dynamic churches in America and Mike used to be a member of the church until he got into coaching in the NFL. Hope to see you there!
ReplyDeleteMike Singletary to speak on Father's Day at Willow Creek
Whoops, sorry forgot to sign my name to the previous post.
ReplyDeleteK.Dorr
I just read that Keith Benton passed away yesterday: http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1642310.html
ReplyDeleteSincere condolences to the family.
Thanks to Anonymous for posting about Keith Benton's death. You can also go to the Sioux City Journal page and leave a comment with the obituary. I know the family will appreciate hearing from everyone, especially those who are at a distance.
ReplyDeleteMavis Diment
SO when is the pool going to get filled and be open? The kids & I am sure some adults are missing there swimming pool.
ReplyDeleteKristi Ames