Your busy reunion committee

It looks to me like they've all been on a glamorous ski trip, but Lynne says it was their meeting yesterday at the Mounder Cafe in Mt. Morris. Here's the scoop on the summer 2009 activities.

"We finalized our July 3rd picnic/potluck at Nancy and Moe's. A mailing will go out in May with details, and a map with directions. Moe says, "Fishing poles will be provided, but you might need to bring a lawn chair." The menu of bar-b-q and chips was planned with the committee providing salads, veggies and desserts, and iced tea and lemonade. Your committee is hoping as many as can will join in the fun. We have ordered up a sunny day."

FYI: The Ladies' Breakfast will be the following morning, July 4th at the White Pines Lodge at 8:30 a.m.

Katie Dirksen

KATHRYN L. DIRKSEN, 83 OREGON - Kathryn L Dirksen, 83, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, in Pinecrest Manor in Mount Morris. Born on the family farm east of Oregon on Jan. 3, 1926, the daughter of Rasmus and Anna (Bush) Rasmussen. She attended the Honey Creek, one room school through the eighth grade, graduated from Oregon High School in 1943, and received her teaching degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, where she attended from 1945 to 1949. On July 17, 1954, she married Roger H. Dirksen in Oregon. Katie loved many sports and taught physical education in Muscatine, Iowa, for three years before moving to Mount Morris to teach PE from 1952 to 1979, when she retired.

She also played softball for the Sinnissippi Rockets. She started teaching Body Recall from 1979 to 2006, which helped many learn how to retain there activeness in life. She was an active member of Ebenezer Reformed Church, where she was a former choir director, Sunday school teacher and member of the Naomi Ruth ladies group. She also owned and operated a Christian Bookstore. Survived by nieces and nephews, Ginger (Gary) McDanel of Byron, Mary Ann (Rich) Rhodes of Oregon, Jane (Larry) Hoke of Clinton, and John (Linda) Rasmussen of Cheboygan, Wis.; many great-nieces and -nephews; and her pet beagle, "Mort." Predeceased by husband, Roger; parents; brothers, George and Russell Rasmussen; and nephew, James. Service at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, in Ebenezer Reformed Church, near Oregon, with the Rev. Phil Rauwerdink officiating. Burial in Ebenezer Cemetery. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 S. Seventh St., in Oregon. Memorial fund is established for the Pinecrest Manor of the Rockford Rescue Mission. For more information, visit farrellhollandgale.com.

Miss Rasmussen, school picnic, May 1954

Class reunion, July 2, 1977

Nancy and Lynne, top; Sylvia, Donna, Barb and Sally, bottom.