From left to right are Mary Lou Lannon, Ramona Hennen, Sandy Notermann and DuWayne Boudin, who page through their senior class yearbook during the Sept. 11 reunion.
The Prior Lake VFW Club hosted a class reunion last Thursday. Festivities began early in the afternoon and ended before 3 p.m. Six members from the Prior Lake High School Class of 1959 were in attendance.
In recent years, it’s become an annual gathering. Former classmates who usually organize the event decided 10 years is too long for those in their mid-80s to wait to reminisce about old times.
In many respects, it looked like most other reunions for those who graduated decades ago. A yearbook from their senior year, “The Priorian,” was prominently displayed on a table, along with name tags, a copy of the 1959 commencement program, an autograph book and a photo album containing black and white photos. Their “class favorites” were neatly typed out on a sheet of white paper. The motto they chose 66 years ago was “With God’s arms around us, we begin on our own.”
“We were a farming community back then and we had 24 kids in our class,” said Mary Lou (Clemen) Lannon. “Our classes were so small everyone participated in all of the sports and activities. Everybody knew everybody.”
That was particularly true for her family, given her mother, Phoebe Clemen, owned the local drive-in and came up with food specials each week to treat the many farm kids who frequented the restaurant. Food orders were delivered to the cars of customers by Mary Lou, who worked as a carhop.
Those attending the reunion had fond memories of picnicking on the shores of Prior Lake. It was there that DuWayne Boudin spent much of his time and learned how to waterski. He became a member at age 16 of the newly-founded Prior Lake Water Ski Club in 1956, and eventually skied competitively, placing 4th in national contests. He now has his permanent residence in Florida, but returns to Prior Lake on a regular basis.
His father, Earl Boudin, moved the family to Prior Lake in 1948, and later turned former farmland into housing developments, including Boudin’s Acres and Boudin’s Manor. It was not unusual at that time for adults to both live and work in Prior Lake. The parents of most made their living through farming; some owned or worked at small businesses in town.
Others attending the reunion share memories about changes within the community that have occurred over the years. Prior Lake’s original elementary school was built where the Prior Lake Police Department is now located. The building from which they graduated contained grades 7 through 12; it is now Grainwood and home to La ola del lago and the community education office. Ramona (Cates) Hennen grew on Pleasant Street and her childhood home was originally constructed where St. Michael Catholic Church is now built.
“A lot of our classmates stayed in town after graduating, got married and raised their families here,” Hennen said. “We’re glad we did.”
Prior to wrapping up the reunion, there was talk about next year’s gathering. When asked if the classmates would want to go back to an evening event in the future, Lannon’s response was quick and came with a laugh: “There’s no evening stuff for the old people.”