The annual Rippey Alumni party was held Saturday, May 23, 2026 in the Rippey United Methodist Church. Jean Borgeson welcomed the guests and after the Pledge of Allegiance Dick Borgeson provided a prayer before lunch was served.
After lunch, Jean called the meeting to order. She thanked the kitchen help, Bev Derry, Maralynn Rinker and Dick. A special thanks to Dick for setting up the tables and Maralynn for decorating the tables. Linda (Borgeson) Hampton and children, Sierra, Sophia, and Jayden helped serve and clean up. They were visiting from Arizona for a few days.
Jean read the names of deceased members since last year and a couple previously overlooked were read. Donna (Heater) Carlisle, Class of 1951; d. 25 Nov 2025 Gail Monthei, Class of 1958; 4 Oct 2025, George Fry, Class of 1954; 30 Nov 2025; Sheila (DeMoss) Burdett; 2 Aug 2023; Judy (Groves) Busch, Class of 1960.
After a discussion, a motion was made by Larry Johnson and seconded by Bev Derry to discontinue the yearly meetings. The six alumni attending voted to discontinue. Thus ends a tradition re-started in 1948 with Vern and Lorene (Johnson) Derry and Glen and Alice (Drake) Grow who felt that interest could be revived in this association. After the 1962 Class graduated, it was decided to continue the alumni party each year and keep it active. *History of Rippey,” updated in 1970, pg. 107.
Pictured: Beverly (Todd) Derry, Class of 1954, Jean Spradley, Class of 1958, Carson City, NV; Mary Ann (Young) Miller, Class of 1959, Perry; Darlene (Mount) Johnson, Class of 1957 and Larry Johnson, Class of 1958, Story City. Not pictured, Marilyn (Hiddleson) Pentico, Class of 1956, Perry. Others present were Sharon Laub, Rippey, Jackie Souder, Jefferson, Paul Miller, Perry, Linda Young, Chicago and Jim Pentico, Perry.