2019 Tingley Alumni Banquet

Celebrating 100 years and the final banquet

"It Stinks!"

The first Tingley High School Alumni Banquet was held in 1919. One hundred years later Saturday, May 25, 2019, cars lined the streets of Tingley having carried alumni to the final banquet.

The Clare JOHNSON family greeted a total of 153 graduates and guests at the Tingley Community Building. The Johnsons had chosen the theme “It Stinks!” (It being the last Alumni Banquet). The color scheme was black and white with skunks used as decorations on the tables and in the windows.

It was noted on the programs the Tingley girls six on six basketball teams had gone to the state tournament in 1952, 1954 and 1957, under the coaching of M.H. OBERMEIER. In 1951, the team had uncaged a skunk as their mascot. The expert needle work on the original skunk was done by Rosie BLAUER, Edith OBERMEIER and Edith McINTOSH. The stuffed skunk was carried onto the door by the girls and placed in the center circle during warm-ups including the three trips to the state tournament. The team believed the “Power of Flower”!

At 6:00 p.m. Kathy (JOHNSON) DEFENBAUGH whistled the crowd to attention and thanked everyone for coming. She also thanked the Tingley Wagon Wheel Cafe for preparing and serving the meal. For dessert the JOHNSON family had made skunk shaped BROWNies served with ice cream. Jim JOHNSON gave the invocation before dinner was served.

Polly (JOHNSON) HARTSOOK conducted the business meeting. Diane (JOHNSON) MILLER announced the honored classes and started the introductions of classes and guests.

Donna (JOHNSON) SIEGL awarded prizes to the following:
Donald WEEDA who at age 92 was the oldest graduate present. Donald also announced that he and Helen would celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary this year.
Larry ENGLAND who was the youngest member of the 1959 class which was the last class to graduate from Tingley.

Ken and Jo Ellen (ARCHIBALD) JOHNSON for coming the farthest.

The Johnsons then presented flowers to secretary Jenesse (OVERHOLTZER) TULL, treasurer Mary Sue (PRITCHARD) McINTOSH and organizer Sue RICHARDS for their services over the years. The flowers were beautifully handcrafted wooden vases made by Gary HARTSOOK.

Also Gary had crafted a bowl made from a fALLEN walnut tree on the JOHNSON farm. This was given to Doris (JOHNSON) BEEN in appreciation of the printing services she has provided over the years.

This year Doris also provided a gold dollar on a “Love of Tingley High” keepsake memento for each place setting. It read: Thanks to all who have willingly given their time, talents and dedication in keeping the Tingley Alumni Association alive for 100 years.”

Sue RICHARDS called attention to the eight vases of flowers in memory of alumni who have passed away since our last meeting. They were Lucy (WEEDA) GARLAND (1943), Dean GARLAND (1943), Peggy (MOHR) SKARDA (1954), Juanita (DRAKE) CLOUSE (1948), Anne (O'NEAL) HOLLAND (1953), Dean BASTOW (1954), Doris (EIGHME) HERRINGTON (1967) and honorary member John PETERS (1955).

Melvin RICHARDS of the 1959 class spoke of his pride and love of Tingley. He hopes people will continue to return on Memorial Day weekend to visit and support the town.

Tony MERCER asked people to visit the Tingley page on Facebook to keep informed about Tingley. Sherry (BISHOP) BRINER does the Tingley page and was present taking pictures to post. Her work is greatly appreciated.

Tony also announced that he is working on the Iowa Genealogy page and would appreciate any Tingley information. Items may be sent to him at ringgoldgenweb@gmail.com or iagenweb.org/ringgold. Tony is the Tingley city clerk and is the grandson of the late Donna (FERGUSON) and Roger MORRISON.

Business discussed was what to do with the balance in the alumni treasury. It was voted to donate a park bench engraved with Tingley High School Alumni to the new city park on Main Street. If enough money is collected it may be used to help with the purchase of Tingley Banners.

Darl FERGUSON moved to close the meeting. It was seconded by Howard TULL. After the meeting an auction was held of donated Tingley memorabilia including Tingley School banners, a boys 1960 basketball uniform #35, history books, pictures, walnut bowls donated by Gary HARTSOOK and more. Jim JOHNSON served as auctioneer and the crowd was pleased to have Colonel Jim SMITH and Mary Ann SMITH arrive to be back up support for JOHNSON.

Mary Sue McINTOSH reports a treasury balance of $1200 including the income from the auction. Any additional donations to the memorial project would be greatly appreciated. Checks may be mailed to: Mary Sue McINTOSH, P.O. Box 181, Tingley, Iowa 50863.

After a long fun filled evening Tingley High School Alumni departed to their homes. Thank you to the JOHNSON Family for a memorable successful evening.

Alumni attending were: (1945) Donald WEEDA and Marvin KESTER, (1946) Helen (O'NEAL) WEEDA and Robert ENGLAND, (1947) Joyce (OVERHOLTZER) SCOTT and Margaret (TROXELL) HULL, (1950) Jack ENGLAND, (1952) John F. OVERHOLTZER, Ellen (EIGHME) TURBOT, Doris (JOHNSON) BEEN, Ken JOHNSON, Lyle MINNICK, (1953) JoEllen (ARCHIBALD) JOHNSON, (1954) Howard TULL, Darl FERGUSON, Frank EIGHME and Charles CLARK, (1955) Jenesse (OVERHOLTZER) TULL, (1956) Darlene (GILES) BEAR and Karen (OWENS) MINNICK, (1957) Myrna (ENGLAND) SPURLOCK, Sue RICHARDS, Dean EIGHME, Mary Jane (MINNICK) MOSBY, Donald RICHARDS, Mary Sue (PRITCHARD) McINTOSH, Mary Jane (CLARK) HARRELL, Hugh FERGUSON and Donald DUKES, (1958) Brenda (BROWN) SHELBURG, Janet (LONGCOY) FENTON, Beverlty (CLARK) BENTZ, Larry GILES and Sharon (KINNEY) GLICK, (1959) Melvin RICHARDS, Norma Jean (SUTHERLAND) JONES, Kenneth CLYMER, Rita (MILLER) SICKELS, Glen TULL and Larry ENGLAND, (1960) Janet (RICHARDS) MAYER, (1961) Linda (KINNE) MYERS, Robert REASONER and Marie (MILLER) SICKELS, (1963) Patty (GROUT) STARK and Rita (DUKES) SICKELS, (1964) Rick FARRELL and Ann (IBBOTSON) MARKS, (1965) Dennis MILLER, (1966) Diane (RICHARDS) SCHUETTS, (1967) Gary PETERSOHN, Gwen TRULLINGER and Randy PETERSOHN, (1968) Gary FERGUSON, (1969) Mike BRECKENRIDGE, (1970) Mike FORD, Kathy (BOYD) WEBBER, Bill BRECKENRIDGE, Kathy (JOHNSON) DEFENBAUGH and Cathy (RIGGS) MASON, (1971) Kathy (ENGLAND) SIMPSON, Glen GROUT, Polly (JOHNSON) HARTSOOK and Joy (KIBURZ) McFARLAND, (1972) Dennis BRECKENRIDGE, Rita (IBBOTSON) BERAN and John ALLEN, (1973) Diane (JOHNSON) MILLER, Judy (KIBURZ) HARRISON, (1974) Lynita Burger and Diane ENGLAND, (1975) Pat WEEDA, Al IBBOTSON and Karen (WEEDA) PETTINGER, (1976) Jeff ENGLAND, (1977) Donna (JOHNSON) SIEGL, (1980) Sherry (BISHOP) BRINER, (1981) Lois (TODD) IBBOTSON, (1982) Jim JOHNSON, Lori (MORRISON) MERCER and Collette (RIGGS) HUNT.

Guests attending were: Lucas ANGUS, Karon GILES, Frank MARKS, Suzanne MILLER, Louise REASONER, Doris RICHARDS, Betty RICHARDS, Dave SCHUETTS, Robert MOSBY, Donald and Gwen WILHITE, Joyce ENGLAND, Mile HARRELL, gary MYERS, Helen CLYMER, Mary OVERHOLTZER, Gary HARTSOOK, John MAYER, Diane BRECKENRIDGE, John BERAN, Floyd BENTZ, Virginia EIGHME, Connie and Scott OBERLE, Nancy FORD, David McFARLAND, Teena PETERSOHN, Ivan HATFIELD, Marilyn EIGHME, Alan and Sharon EIGHME, Olivia EIGHME, Callista EIGHME, Kimberly DAWSON, Zackary DAWSON, Ed DEFENBAUGH, Christie REECE, Kaye BRECKENRIDGE, John KIBURZ, Martha PETERSOHN, Kevin and Debbie GLICK, Tonya FERGUSON, Tim SCOTT, David and Revonda SCOTT, Melody BEEN, Joni WORDEN, Eric FELL, Barb DUKES, Steve MURDOCH, Lisa MURDOCH, Brenda WEEDA, Cindy ALLEN, Judy MINNICK, Bill THOMPSON, Carl and Gloria (JOHNSON) VANZEE, Evelyn (DeVRIES) VAN SICKLE, Sherri FROST, Jack SICKELS, Deb (MONOGHAN) GROUT, Bill MILLER, Richard MARTIN, Mary Lee FOLTZ, Joyce FARRELL, Belinda HORTON, Ronnie BAUMFALK, Tony MERCER and Jim and Mary Ann SMITH.

Respectfully submitted by Secretary Jenesse TULL.