Davidson

Class of 1965 enjoys 50-year reunion supper

Seen here are the members of the Davidson High School graduating class of 1965 who gathered May 16 for a 50-year reunion. Pictured are: (back row from left) Cliff Prpich, Larry Edwards, Jim Stone, Alf Richardson (face obscured), Norman Sampson, Doug Gregor, Greg Smith, Larry Morrison, Eldon Hubbs and Ken Goodmanson; (middle row) Janet McCubbing, Joan Didur, Linda Schier, Linda McCann, Doris Leppky, Donna Didur, Donna Millard, Renee Parsons, Irene Frier and Marilyn Resler; (front row) Lee Bristow, David McLaren, Shirley Blenkin, Linda King, Barbara Dueck, Sharon McKenzie and Janet Stevens.
Seen here are the members of the Davidson High School graduating class of 1965 who gathered May 16 for a 50-year reunion. Pictured are: (back row from left) Cliff Prpich, Larry Edwards, Jim Stone, Alf Richardson (face obscured), Norman Sampson, Doug Gregor, Greg Smith, Larry Morrison, Eldon Hubbs and Ken Goodmanson; (middle row) Janet McCubbing, Joan Didur, Linda Schier, Linda McCann, Doris Leppky, Donna Didur, Donna Millard, Renee Parsons, Irene Frier and Marilyn Resler; (front row) Lee Bristow, David McLaren, Shirley Blenkin, Linda King, Barbara Dueck, Sharon McKenzie and Janet Stevens.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — They may have looked a little different on the surface, but underneath the grey hair and wrinkles, it was the same old class of 1965.

Shirley Blenkin, one of the organizers for the group’s 50-year reunion on Saturday, May 16, said that when the former classmates met up at Davidson School, they had some trouble recognizing each other.

“We didn’t have name tags on” yet, she said. “People just didn’t know who was who.”

“It was fun to try and figure people out,” said Marilyn Resler (nee Sarich). “There was just so many you couldn’t recognize . . . and then there was that big ‘ah-ha.’”

After the ice was broken, the group enjoyed an afternoon of reminiscing and getting reacquainted for their first reunion in three decades. Blenkin and Irene Frier organized the gathering over the course of a year.

Out of the class of 55 students who graduated from Davidson High School in the spring of 1965, 27 returned to town for the reunion. Including spouses and guests, about 40 were in attendance for supper.

The group met on Saturday afternoon at the school for a tour, guided by current principal Jason Low. They then migrated to the Davidson Golf and Country Club for dinner, enjoying a meal at the clubhouse.

Though they had the option of playing golf, Blenkin said, “they just all got busy visiting and never even thought about it anymore.”

Copies of the group’s black-and-white graduation photo were on display, while some had also brought their yearbooks, leaving them on the tables to solicit signatures.

Their Grade 5 teacher, Yvonne Doell, joined the class for supper. Blenkin said they also learned Saturday that their former principal, Ray Allison, died Friday night in Saskatoon.

Allison, a native of Aylesbury, served for 14 years as principal in Evasham, Creelman, Lucky Lake and Davidson, before joining the Biggar School Unit as superintendent of schools in 1965, according to his obituary in the StarPhoenix.

After half a century, Blenkin said most of her former classmates are scattered across Canada and the United States, while eight still reside in the district.

Some came from Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and Melfort, but others further away had to send their regrets.

“It gets difficult to come that distance for supper and a little visit,” she said, adding that others were out seeding and couldn’t get away. “It’s hard to plan a time that suits everyone.”

Marilyn Resler and her husband Fred came the furthest, travelling 1,300 kilometres one way from Peachland, B.C., south of Kelowna.

“Things have changed since I’ve been here,” she said of the town, adding that they made the trip out to visit family in Saskatoon and Humboldt and were able to attend the reunion as a bonus.

Resler said she was having fun and enjoyed coming back to Davidson, adding, “It’s sort of like ‘once a friend, always a friend.’”

In recognition of the class of 2015 — which had its graduation exercises the same night as the reunion — the former classmates bought and signed cards of congratulation for each graduate.

John B. McJannet, one of the ’65 graduates, is the grandfather of ’15 grad Elise McJannet, while Jim Stone is the great-uncle of Liana Farrell.

Seven members of the class of 1965 have since died: Maureen Brown (nee Cammer), Ian Findlay, Dale Frier, Julius LePoudre, Laurie Lockwood, Wayne Low and Gerald Zdunich.

The class also met for reunions in 1975 and 1985; Blenkin recalled that the 10-year reunion drew the largest crowd.