Betsy Gibson Wilson

To recap briefly: I went to UWM Milwaukee for several years. Got the wanderlust and went to Washington DC. Went to work for CIA and travelled overseas to Aftrica for 2 years and to Vietnam for 1 and a half years. Absolutely wonderful experiences. My husband was in Vietnam at the time but I didn't meet him until I got back to the states. He was a Marine Corps Gy Sgt. He was badly affected by Agent Orange - caused diabetes and heart failure and eventually lost both legs. Died about 4 years ago. We were married 36 years. I moved to Lubbock to be with daughter and her family--fantastic son-in-law and grandson 5 years old. My daughter is a speech therapist and son-in-law works for Texas Tech as public relations person. Lubbock is great but not like Wisconsin or Tennessee. It is beautiful to see the horizon though. Wisconsin and Tenn. have no idea what the horizon is!!

I've gotten "physical" since being here. I belong to a senior type center and have 4 exercise classes a week plus 6 Tai Chi classes a week. Also found an underwater treadmill place and run 4-5 miles a day in the water. It's great! The water takes all the strain off joints. I have rheumatoid arthritis.

Excuse the typing erros. I'm usually pretty good but broke my right arm a few weeks ago.

Good to hear from you. You can send the reunion stuff . I probably couldn't come because of money, and distance but it will be good to see who is doing what.Thanks for the email. Hard to believe it has been 50 years. Betsy Gibson Wilson.

Would you recognize this sailor>

It's Bruce Cutting. I want to be on that boat!

Bruce K. Brahe II. 20 Jul, 11

To the reunion committee and to our class,
First and foremost, I want to thank you all and those classmates working with you for your much appreciated efforts on every one's behalf. And I want to commend you for your professional approach. I particularly got a chuckle out of what I thought was a clever and humorous "witness protection program" quip.

Delavan never left me. It was to me the nearly ideal American small town in the greatest country on earth. The kids I went to school with were the best kids anyone could share a schoolroom with --ALL of you. Having to move in my junior year was a painful time in my young life. The Delavan of those days remains, and always will, an untarnished, glowing and treasured memory.

Reunions are both joyous and sad remembrances. My deepest sympathy to those of you who have lost loved ones and experienced other tragedies. And those classmates no longer with us will never be forgotten by me, and I know, by no one else who knew them. Our lives are truly fleeting.

I truly hope, despite the passage of a half century, this will be one of the best reunions we've ever had.

I wish you all the very best of life, health, love, friendship, joy and happiness. With respect, affection and warm regards,
Kent

Goodday Mate

as the Aussie saying goes. Hello to Everyone. Thank you for the invitation to attend the 50th year class reunion. Sorry I am unable to attend. Around the time of the reunion we are expectiong our fourth grandchild. We have three granddaughters..5, 3, and 1 years old.

The last time I was home in Delavan for a visit was in August 2008. My husband and I spent four months in the states, visiting family throughout all of America. Had a wonderful time. Hopefully one day we might be able to come for another visit.

Wishing all the best of health to all my former classmates. Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy each other's company and friendship.

Sincerely, Laverne White (nee Van Dyken)

From Sea to Shining Sea

I hope everyone had a fun 4th of July. The past few years have found me in front of my daughter's big screen tv with the Boston Pops fireworks display. It brings out the child in me, and just for old times sake we run out and catch fireflies. Responses for our reunion are coming in the mail and because of that Frank updated our spreadsheet. I quickly made a count of where our classmates live....just for the fun of it. I should have asked Frank to do it as he's more accurate than I am, but I'm pestering him all the time.

64 reside in WI, 15 in CA, 3 in IN, 1 in OH, 1 in GA, 1 in VA, 1 in TX, 8 in IL, 1 in MO, 1 in MI, 2 in TN, 1 in NM, 2 in WA, 2 in PA, 7 in FL, 3 in NC, 1 in WY, 1 in OK, 1 in IA. And there is one in Australia....lets all go vist.

I'm certain the state abbreviations came about after we graduated, but did we have a zip code in highschool?

This is one hot summer! Myrt