Prospect Valley High School Reunion News

January 15th, 2009 # 11

The High School Orchestra pictured was taken in 1945. I

don‟t remember all the names in the picture. There were

some younger members in the group that I can‟t remem-

ber. The names are not in order; need help in identifying

each student.

Shirley Abbott, Donna Mallory, Ruth Suppes, Ruth Mal-

lory, Robert Mallory, Melba Keller, Dorothy Kern,

Helen Nelson, Darlene Suppes, Ruth Yeager, Harold Hil-

lenbrand, Betty Tegtman, Sylvester Tegtman, Bertha

Alberts, Dorothy Claycomb, Elma Jean Nagel, Mrs.

Gustafson, Mr. Madonna, Russell Epple, Hazel Abbott,

Verle Abbott, Martha Huwa, Harold Huwa, Ruby Dell

Davis, Donna Lewton, Leona Greenemeyer, Loraine Hof-

ferber and Wanda Parker.

I thought this might add some excitement to the PVHS

group to figure out where they were in the bunch. Thank

you and your staff for the job well done on the Reunion.

Joy Keller Vitgenos

Happy New Year 2009

An Ode to a Happy New Year

I was just looking at this calendar of mine

And saw that the year is almost two thousand nine!

Did I really think that time would stand still

And just wait for me all my goals to fulfill?

I think not, as at my growing list I peer

Looking at things I failed to do last year.

(continued)

How could it be that my list didn‟t shrink?

I worked hard and didn‟t waste time, I think.

They tell me that as one gets up there in years

That time goes by faster, shifts into higher gears.

They say that as we age our memory becomes dull,

But I think it‟s because our hard drives are too full.

But I look forward to this brand new year

And just thank the Lord that I‟m still here!

Maybe in an external hard drive I need to invest.

That should put all my memory concerns to rest.

Surely getting up there in age is not the reason

Why we go so fast now from season to season.

And even though year 2008 went by way too fast

At least there are memories that I‟m sure will last.

It‟s really not all that bad, getting up there in age.

After all, retirement is now the popular rage.

A senior discount is really something I covet

And using it? I‟m certainly not one above it!

So, come on year two thousand nine in all your glory,

Let‟s you and me put together a really good story.

A really good story that at the end of this new year

Will be quite the story that everyone will want to hear.

So, give me my senior discount and I‟ll be on my way

Thanking the Lord for giving me yet another day.

And as I look at my calendar „bout this time next year

I‟ll look back and be thankful that I‟m still here!

The old red school house must have had a huge smile on its face

as all of us former Cardinals met at the PVHS reunion place.

It was so glad that it had called out to George Davis that one day

as he stopped to listen to what the old red school house had to say.

Yes, the old red school house was so glad that George listened

to that voice that called to him as tears in its windows glistened.

Tears of sadness, but also of joy that someone would heed its call

to bring forth from its class rooms so many memories from us all.

Ah, the old red school house, it surely must have been so proud

to know that its years of service had produced such a crowd.

Yes, it was a crowd of us Cardinals from so many different years

who gathered for a weekend of stories, songs, laughter and tears.

That one single building, the old red school house on the hill

gave us all these memories of the times we remember still.

Memories of sports, dances, class plays, hayrides and such,

and it all began in that old red school house we loved so much.

The old red school house, sad that our reunion host it could not be,

but happy to know that it‟s a school house we still can see.

Whether it‟s just in our memories or still standing on the hill,

the old red school house is something we treasure and always will.

Yes, the old red school house will live on forever in our hearts.

We won‟t forget you, old friend, even as we leave these parts.

You gave us this time to be together, this wonderful reunion song,

and more reunions are sure to follow, your proud legacy to prolong.

So, for now, farewell, adieu to our dear old friend on the hill.

Thank you for all you gave us, and for all you give us still.

You remain silhouetted against the blue Prospect Valley sky,

a proud sentinel who guards the memories of days gone by.

Dedicated to the memory of Gloris, Shirley and Ronnie from the

class of 1956 and to all other Prospect Valley Cardinals from other

years who are no longer with us. The old red school house remem-

bers all of you. Kenny Vogel Class of 1956

Let’s Do It Again!

Ode to the 2008 PVHS Cardinal Reunion

Planning Meeting March 19, 20 & 21st

Riverside Resort in Laughlin, NV http://www.riversideresort.com

Would you like to take a Senior Sneak Trip to

Laughlin? We’ll talk about the possibility of a

2010 reunion. Everyone is invited to come.

Just make you own reservations and let

Marilyn or Pat know if you are coming. We

need your cell number so we can get in

touch while at Laughlin.

There is a Sun Country Flight on 3/19 from

Denver to Laughlin and returns on the 22nd.

It’s a package deal including flight and hotel

accommodations (double occupancy) at

the Riverside Hotel ($229). More information

is on the hotel website (above). The phone is

1-800-227-3849 to get more information and

reservations. Don’t Wait.

If you are driving, make your own hotel reser-

vations by calling the Riverside Hotel at

( 1 866 228 2771 or 1- 702-298-2535)

You may also reserve rooms online

http://www.riversideresort.com.

Rooms go fast. If you plan to attend,

you need to make your reservations

SOON!

A Tribute to Sherry Sargent Stickle

Many thanks to Sherry of the PVHS reunion team.

May that happy sparkle in your eyes forever gleam!

All of us old Cardinals you helped locate

So a wonderful reunion we all could celebrate.

Something we all know, yep, it’s certainly true,

The reunion would not have been the same without you.

We won’t forget that even in the saddest of days

You were there with that happy smile on your face.

So take some time off and hopefully get some rest.

Just remember, we all think that you are the best!

But please, please don’t go too far away,

We want to see you on another reunion day.

Love,

All the PVHS Cardinals

Reunion DVD It was so thoughtful of you to mail the Prospect

Valley High School Reunion DVD with a slide show

and photos of the reunion in September.

I did attend the reunion—it was very special. Wal-

ter Daigle was not able to attend, but he enjoyed

the DVD.

We would like to pay for the DVD’s if you will let

me know the cost.

Thanks, Helen Boosinger

Next Reunion 2010

Are You Ready?

Date to be Determined at

the

March Planning Meeting! Watch for Details!

Dear Helen , Walter and PVHS Members

In regards to the DVD. There is no cost to you. The DVD

and postage was budgeted into our expenses. This was

made possible by the generous donations made by the

Cardinal Club members. We do have a few DVD’s

available. If you did not receive one and wish to have

one sent, please let me know.

Cardinal Club Donations are being accepted for the

continuation of the Newsletter and the 2010 PVHS

Reunion. Please send to Marilyn Haffner, Treasurer.

Thank you for your past and continued support.

George

Marilyn Sargent Haffner

Treasurer

George Davis,

Chairman –Newsletter

Ken Vogel

Writer & Public Relations

Pat Ruhl-Bass

Newsletter Assistant

The New PVHS Reunion Committee

Information Page

WANTED

The True Story

Behind

This Picture!

Family or Individual History We need your story. Send to George

Newsletter By E-Mail

Just a reminder, if you want to

get the Newsletters in color, con-

tact Marilyn. Make sure your com-

puter is fast enough and opens

PDF files.

Senior Sneak Trip Don‟t Hesitate, Make your Reservation

First Graders 1946 –1947

PV Memories

"It's funny how a memory can be-

come lost in the tangles of the mind

and lie there only to be recovered by

just the right trigger."

How many have had a special memory triggered by

the Newsletters or the reunion. Please send

memories to George for future Newsletters.

Marilyn

The reunion was a great success and I enjoyed both days. The committee is to be com-

mended for all of their hard

work. Thank you to everyone in-

volved. I only attended PVHS

through January of my sixth grade so

I felt I had gone there as long as I

attended the Greeley schools where I

graduated. There weren't any of my

original classmates at the reunion

but I knew so many of the other peo-

ple there so it was very enjoyable.

Donna Trupp Weber

Hi George,

Congratulations to You, Sherry, and

Marilyn for the dedication and out-

standing work that made the reunion

a success. Barb and I enjoyed our-

selves very much reuniting with for-

mer classmates and friends.

A BIG THANX to the three of you!!!!

You can continue sending future newsletters

to my email address and drop our names from

the mail list. see ya, Charlie

Eldon Reed Class of 1935 The enclosed picture is a copy of

the Prospect Valley School in 1924

-1925. I was a 2nd grader and my

sister, Marjorie Reed, was in the

4th grade. I attended Prospect

Valley School from the first grade

through my junior year of high

school before my family moved to Coolidge, Kansas.

I graduated from Coolidge High School in 1935. In

those years I lived to play basketball—I still fa-

vor the sport above all others.

On September 6, (of this year) I will celebrate my

91st birthday. Needless to say Father time has re-

duced my activity to the point that I must now de-

pend almost solely on help from others. Thank-

fully, my family is large and old ―Gramps‖ is

still a favored character—their love and care sus-

tains me.

My years at Prospect Valley are memorable ones.

Basically, my hometown is Syracuse, Kansas, just a

small town bordering the eastern Colorado line.

The worth of my life is not measured in dollars

and cents, but I am not complaining– the quality

has far exceeded that measurement.

My regards to all who were, and are, the students

of Prospect Valley School.

First of all I want to con-

gratulate you on the great

job of putting this whole

Reunion thing together. It

was a great experi-

ence. Some that I hadn't

seen in over 62 years. I

hope you and your wife have

had time to recover.

I would like to have the E-mail version of

the Newsletter - help save a cent or

two. Besides I like the color version. I

can just print it off if I want a hard-

copy. This will go into a folder to look

at once in a while. If there is a charge

for membership again this year let me know

and I will forward it.

Looking forward to the next one. My only

disappointment was, that, there were no

others there from my class. Of course

most of them are 80 or older, so I do un-

derstand as I will be 80 in March of '09.

Thanks again for an exceptional perform-

ance, including your "highly paid" staff.

I still think that the Marines should al-

ways secure the area around the "Mess"

before allowing anyone else to approach

it.

Bob Mallory

Congratulations on a successful class reun-

ion. I heard it was wonderful!! Please send

me the Newsletter by email at

alpacaweaver@q.com

Thank you! Sandi Uno

Dear Marilyn,

Evelyn and I would like to thank you and the

committee for all of your work and time on the

PVHS Reunion.. We certainly had a good time

meeting and reminiscing with, not only the peo-

ple in my class, such as you,

but also members of other(s)

that returned for the reunion.

There were a lot of people

that came a long ways for the

reunion that I had not seen

in a long time. You certainly

look good and it reminds me of

the days we were in school

together.

I am enclosing a donation to the reunion group.

Sorry this thank you note is so late coming.

Vernon and Evelyn

Donna Lewton Russell „47 Donna has submitted a detailed

history of her four brothers who

were graduates of PVHS and

veterans of the United States

Army & Navy . On page 11 & 12

you will find a history of Elmo,

Verle, Glenn and Lynn Lewton.

THE ERKER FAMILIES

Okay…you asked for it, you got it! Well, George asked for it and now all of you get the benefit (yeah, right) of this bit of

trivia. Seems as though the Erker families (10 total) have confused some people out in PVHS land and George “made” me

promise to “de-confuse” him, at least, as much as possible. The rest of you are along for the ride.

Since there were “several” Erker families in the Prospect Valley/Roggen area, people always seemed to get us mixed up with

the wrong parents…well, our parents were still “our” parents, but…you know what I mean! Lordy, even my sister, Shirley,

and I got the biggest kick out of perplexing the best of teachers all through high school considering we looked so much alike

at that time (semi-gorgeous, of course). It wasn‟t so bad if we were both in the same class but if we were in separate rooms,

look out teachers! We belonged to Al and Margaret, all 8 of us in order are – Harlan (deceased); Gene, Gary (both Burling-

ton, CO); Shirley (Lyle, WA); Diann (Albuquerque, NM); Carol (Snowflake, AZ); Joan (Burlington); and Nancy (Pampa,

TX). Shirley and I were the only two to attend PVHS for one and a half years and then our family moved to Stratton,

CO. The boys “got” to go to private school in Denver but they knew many of the people in the area that we went to high

school with later, having gone to elementary school south of Roggen.

The other families were Harold and Betty – children, Barbara (Boulder City, NV); Mary Ellen (Lamar); Vickie and Harold

Jo (both of Roggen).

Bill and Francis – children, Larry (St. Louis, MO); Sandra (Denver); Richard (deceased); Floyd/Scott (Sterling); Marvin

(Louisville); Roberta (Santa Rosa, CA); Billie (deceased).

Ed and Mary – (none of their children went to PVHS; they all lived near Fort Morgan/Wiggins) – Stanley, Leon, Sheila

(deceased), Michael, Steven, Jimmy.

Then, of course, there was George and Elsie Bush (she was an Erker) – children, Bob (Highlands Ranch); Beverly (LaSalle);

Ron (Plano, TX).

The rest of the Erker brothers and sisters were scattered all over the country –

California, Nebraska, Kansas, and Idaho. If we had all been in the Roggen area,

I would probably even have had trouble keeping us straight.

Although my stay at PVHS was short, I do have such fond memories of so many

of you and being able to attend the reunion was a dream come true. I had often

thought of those wonderful times and if I would ever be able to share them with

you again. I DID!!! I look forward to doing it again in 2010 and hope to be part

of the “hard working” group that plans it. George, Sherry and Marilyn (and all

the class reps, of course) did a super job on this one and I‟m sure they‟ll be able

to top it in 2010!

We are retired now and do extensive traveling around the country in our mo-

torhome, so if you let me know where you are, we just might drop in for a “happy

hour”…we‟re getting real good at those!

Diann Erker Coy

Gary, Shirley, Uncle George, Sandy,

Vickie,& Diann

Lois Elmore Franklin „52

I was in Prospect Valley school for 11 and 1/2 years. My folks

moved to Greeley, so I graduated from Greeley High in 1952. I

worked at Mountain Bell Telephone Co. after I graduated until

1959. I met Howard Franklin when he was home on "leave" from

the Army in 1953. He was sent to Germany until 1956, so we had

a long distant relationship until he was honorably discharged. We

were married Feb. 14, 1957. Our 1st daughter was born in 1959 and our second daugh-

ter was born in 1962. We now have 5 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. We

farmed and had a dairy until 1962 outside of LaSalle, Co. We then moved to Fort

Collins and farmed and had a dairy there until 1972. We sold all of our cows and

dairy equipment and opened up a custom meat packing plant. We operated that until

1989. We moved into Fort Collins and Howard started working for a door co. He's still

working on all of the doors at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center. I had a home licensed

day care for 20 years, but had to close it at the end of 2006 because of my health.

I received the disc and want to thank everyone

for the BIG FUN TIME we did

have. Sometime I will give you

some family history. Wishing

you and yours, and family, a

Merry, Merry Christmas and a

Happy, Happy, New Year.

Thanks again. Dorothy

(Amen) Belk

The two most power-filled words…”I Can”

The most beautiful

attire...SMILE!

Shari Brown Hervold’59

2008 was a banner year in our household. In the spring I retired from the teaching pro-

fession, a move which frequently prompts an inquiry into what I do with all of my free

time. Well, I substitute in our school district and enjoy my forays back to the classroom.

I’m on the board of a prep school where I serve on the Curriculum Committee. On the

home front, it’s actually fun to prepare meals in an unhurried fashion, experiment with new recipes, and this fall I

enjoyed getting apples from one of the local orchards to make into pies to freeze for baking during the winter

months. I haven’t done that in many years. I have taken on the responsibility for most of our lawn care which

means lots of mowing during the growing months, and seeming endless leaf removal during the fall. (I wish our

neighbors’ trees would be more discriminating with where they shed their leaves.) I reason that it’s great exercise

with multiple benefits. I am involved with the women’s ministry at my church and meet weekly with my ladies

group. I’m making progress on a basement that has been the repository for “stuff” for too long and I’m also enjoy-

ing more time for reading and reflecting. So, there is life after retirement and I am loving it!!

On May 24th, just a day after receiving her MLS degree from the University of Maryland, Kaara was married to

Richard Mehring in a beautiful ceremony in Bethesda, Maryland. We are now proud in-laws to Richard whom we

consider a genuine treasure! He works for the Justice Department and she is the librarian for a prep school not far

from their home.

In August we were in Missouri for my family’s biennial reunion. What a grand time we had with all of my sib-

lings and spouses and most of the nieces/nephews and their children – almost fifty in all. The younger generation

took over the responsibilities for entertainment, crafts, etc. Boy, was it nice to just relax and enjoy it all. We really

love you guys!!

Then, in September we were joined by my sister Barb and her husband Jimmie for a quick trip to Colorado to

participate in a reunion of the high school from which Barb and I graduated. While in Colorado we visited with my

mother’s two surviving siblings. Her sister, my Aunt Vi, turns 96 this December and is still a vibrant personality.

We had a great time!

Now, we look forward to a new year with new opportunities to make a difference in this topsy-turvy world in

which we live. May each of you be refreshed this season as you reflect on what God’s grace has wrought in your

lives. We hope to see many of you in 2009 and pray God’s richest blessings on each of you.

Shari for the two of us

Where Did It Go, The Old Cottonwood Tree? It‟s not there anymore, the old cottonwood tree I used to climb as a small boy. I would climb to the highest

branch and from there I would survey my wonderful world of Prospect Valley and daydream about the future.

Where and what would I be when I grew up, and where and what would my friends be? Would I ever know?

Ah, but the old red school house is still there, a silent sentinel filled with memories of so many students and

teachers who walked those halls and sat in those desks. Then came the 2008 PVHS Reunion. What an in-

credible opportunity to get answers to the daydreams I had as a young boy sitting high up in that cottonwood

tree! There they were, so many former classmates I hadn‟t seen in over 50 years and now I could find out

where they had gone and what they had done. The old cottonwood tree may not be there anymore and thank-

fully I didn‟t have to worry about trying to climb its limbs again at my age to retrieve those memories. The

2008 PVHS Reunion took care of that in a way that I could only dream about and in a way that became a won-

derful reality for all who attended. It was a weekend filled with good food, laughter, visiting, singing, photo-

graphs, displays of memorabilia including the leather football helmet some of us wore. Best of all it was a time

to sit down and talk with so many people, Cardinals, who came and went through the doors of Prospect Valley

School over a span of so many years. It was a weekend filled with the magic of memories shared and vows

made to stay in touch with each other after the reunion is over. It was a weekend made possible by the dreams

of a Marine and his squadron of doers. A huge tip of the hat and many, many thanks to George Davis,

Marilyn Sargent Haffner and Sherry Sargent Stickle for their hard work and strong leadership with class rep-

resentatives to put together this reunion and to keep the newsletters coming. Thanks to them I don‟t need the

old cottonwood tree after all. Ken Vogel

Top: Donn Reid, Ken

Vogel, Rodney Hofferber,

Bill Gibson, John Bumpus

Nancy & Ellen Holden.

Reunion

Pictures

Richard Ishida

& Daughters

Let’s get it right this time Kids!!

As kids they hated school, now they break in!!

Back Row: (left to right) ?, ?, Marie Martinez, Darlene Kern,

Sally Martinez, Betty Kern, Donna Midcap, Loraine Hofferber,

Leona Uhrich, Blanche Ewertz.

Middle Row: Wilma Jean Solan, Joy Keller, Theresa ?, Anna

Zimbelman, Esther Baumgartner, Mrs. Arnold, Wanda Parker,

Helen Swartz, Florence Gettman & Leona Greenemeyer.

Front Row (setting): ?, ?, ?, Harold Daigle & Harley Toto.

(Thanks to Joy Keller Vitgenos for sending the picture)

Wayne & Juanita Wilma & Bill Knies

S

T

A

F

F

4th & 5th Grades 1936

THE CLASS REUNION

Sent by a Suddenly Senior Reader

Every ten years, as summertime nears, an announce-

ment arrives in the mail, A reunion is planned; it'll be

really grand; make plans to attend without fail.

I'll never forget the first time we met; We tried so hard to

impress. We drove fancy cars, smoked big cigars, and

wore our most elegant dress.

It was quite an affair; the whole class was there. It was

held at a fancy hotel. We wined, and we dined, and we

acted refined, and everyone thought it was swell.

The men all conversed about who had been first to

achieve great fortune and fame. Meanwhile, their

spouses described their fine houses and how beautiful

their children became.

The homecoming queen, who once had been lean, now

weighed in at one-ninety-six. The jocks who were there

had all lost their hair, and the cheerleaders could no

longer do kicks.

No one had heard about the class nerd who'd guided a

spacecraft to the moon; or poor little Jane, who's always

been plain; she married a shipping tycoon.

The boy we'd decreed "most apt to succeed" was serving

ten years in the pen, While the one voted "least" now

was a priest; just shows you can be wrong now and then.

They awarded a prize to one of the guys who seemed to

have aged the least. Another was given to the grad who

had driven the farthest to attend the feast.

They took a class picture, a curious mixture of beehives,

crew cuts and wide ties. Tall, short, or skinny, the style

was the mini; you never saw so many thighs.

At our next get-together, no one cared whether they im-

pressed their classmates or not. The mood was informal,

a whole lot more normal; by this time we'd all gone to

pot.

It was held out-of-doors, at the lake shores; we ate ham-

burgers, coleslaw, and beans. Then most of us lay

around in the shade, In our comfortable T-shirts and

jeans.

By the fortieth year, it was abundantly clear, we were

definitely over the hill. Those who weren't dead had to

crawl out of bed, and be home in time for their pill.

And now I can't wait; they've set the date; our fiftieth is

coming, I'm told. It should be a ball, they've rented a

hall at the Shady Rest Home for the old.

Repairs have been made on my hearing aid; my pace-

maker's been turned up on high. My wheelchair is oiled,

and my teeth have been boiled; and I've bought a new

wig and glass eye.

I'm feeling quite hearty, and I'm ready to party I'm

gonna dance 'til dawn's early light. It'll be lots of fun;

but I just hope that there's one other person who can

make it that night.

Author Unknown

The most contagious spirit...Enthusiasm

The Round Table Discussion

Ed and Al Discussing Some Really Big Issues!!

Sherry and Tim

The world's most incredible computer....The brain

She Kissed The Hairbrush

By Mistake

She Thought It Was

Her Husband Jake

Burma Shave

If You Drive

While You're Drunk

Carry Your Coffin

In Your Trunk

Burma Shave

Don't Lose Your Head

To Gain A Minute

You Need Your Head

Your Brains Are In It

Burma Shave

Burma Shave Signs Here are some old Burma shave signs

that were so much fun to look forward to

when traveling across the United States.

DID YOU KNOW?

RESEARCH SOHWS THAT IT DEOSN‟T MTTAER IN WAHT ORDER

THE LETETRS IN A WROD AEAPPR. THE OLNY IPROMATNT THING IS

THAT THE FRIST AND LSAT LTTEER BE IN THE RGHIT PCLAE

BCUSEAE THE HUAMN MIND DEOS NOT RAED EVRVEY LTETER BY

ISTLEF, BUT THE WROD AS A WLOHE

(I wonder what Mrs. Tegtman would think of this?)

Coupons - Grocery Coupons, Online Coupons, Baby Coupons,

Free Stuff, Free Samples - Print

FREE Coupons

www.mycoupons.com

PVHS Senior Living Remember:

Inside every older person is a

young person wondering what

happened.

The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... "Getting lucky" means you find your car in the

parking lot.

Seniors Prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the

Lord my shape to keep. Please no wrinkles, please no bags- And, please lift my butt before it sags. Please no age spots, please no gray- And, as for my belly, please take it away.

Please keep me healthy, please keep me young- And, thank you Dear Lord for all that you've done!

U.S. Restaurant

Information www.dine.com

Get your Free Emergency

Medical Card

www.medids.com/free-id.php

50PLUSFUN.COM GetHuman - How to reach

a real live person.

Gethuman.com

http://www.seniorsummerschool.com/info.asp

Old age begins and middle age ends the day your descendants

outnumber your friends. Ogden Nash

Seasons Greeting from my house to your house Beda

Greetings!

Strictly for the fun of it and at the risk of sounding pretentious,

I'm putting the odes I've written into a booklet, I'd be happy to

send copies to anyone interested at no charge, of course. It's

just something I enjoy doing and am happy to share.

Ken Vogel 1235 Monroe St Reno, NV 89509

<jacobvogel@sbcglobal.net>

NEWSLETTER

TOUCHES MANY LIVES

BEYOND THE VALLEY

by Marilyn Sargent Haffner

I would like to share with you, a way

our Newsletters have touched lives beyond the

Valley. Pictures, from the late 1930’s, sent in

for our newsletters contained pictures of my

mother, Marjorie Redman and Aunt Betty

Redman. This Christmas I made copies of

those pages and a few articles I had personally

written, and sent them to my Redman family

members. I received a call from my cousin,

Dan’s wife. She said she overheard him on the

phone saying, “This was the best Christmas

letter I have ever received.” Dan is the oldest

son of Betty Redman Ballinger. They had not

seen any pictures of their mother taken while

she was at Prospect Valley. What joy this

brought to them. Several other family members

also told me how much these pictures meant to

them.

I would like to say a special thank you

to George Bush, Helen Uhrich Boosinger,

Helen Trupp Altergott and all others who have

contributed pictures and articles to the PVHS

Newsletter. Marilyn

Loyd G. Sargent was born in Keenesburg to Irvin J. and Della (Claycomb) Sargent. He grew up on the family

farm near Prospect Valley and attended Prospect Valley School. Joining the Army in 1950, Loyd served dur-

ing the Korean War.

He received the Soldier of the Week award at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He married Lorraine Renner on

Nov. 10, 1951, at Camp Rucker, Ala. They raised three children, farmed and fed cattle with his father and

older brother in Prospect Valley. In 1980, they moved to Greeley and later

divorced.

Loyd served on the Board of Directors of Roggen Farmers Elevator. He was a Realtor for several years. An

avid country Western dancer, Loyd spent many happy hours teaching dance. He married

Sandra Rueb on March 3, 2007, in Evans. They enjoyed dancing, traveling and time at

their home. His family will especially miss his sense of humor and his singing.

Survivors: His wife, Sandy Sargent of Evans; daughter, Linda Epple and husband Bill of

Roggen; sons, Larry Sargent and wife Sherrie of Bennett, Lee Sargent of Greeley; Steven,

Scott and Shane Rueb and families; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a

brother, Vernon Sargent and wife Alberta; sister, Dorothy Penston and husband David;

and brother-in-law, Leo Vrbas. Preceded in death by: His parents, and sister, Shirley

Vrbas.

PVHS SOLDIER

Salute to Loyd Sargent

Jan. 14, 1932 – Nov. 15, 2008

Kodak Moments at PVHS

PVHS Soldier

Salute to Verle B. Lewton’32

Verle graduated from PVHS in the spring of 1932, after completing his junior and senior year there. He helped with the

farming at home for several years. He enjoyed working with the horses more than with a tractor so he did most of the

row crop farming.

Since times were very hard and the farm work was scarce or absent of income many falls and winters he would find

work on other farms and also picked up other jobs in town. He spent one winter selling Hoover vacuum cleaners and

often bartered them to the older people for some commodity, such as afghans etc., since they had no money to buy with

and wanted and needed a sweeper.

As world conditions worsened, the United States introduced the “draft”. Verle being the next to the oldest boy was the

first in the family to be tagged to be drafted into the Army. As he saw his number approaching induction he volunteered

to join the Army Air Corps providing he could stay home until after Christmas. They agreed to that and he entered De-

cember 27, 1941 as a private first class. His first stop was Fort Bliss, TX then Sheppard Field and back to Lowry Field in

Denver where he stayed from February to May 1942. He seemed to always be on the move, only staying one or two days

at some bases. He became a Corporal on July 1, 1943, on the Queen Mary, arriving in Liverpool ten days later.

Moving to England did not slow his movements as he was at six different bases teaching Aircraft Armament and Sperry

Maintenance, Bombardment Equipment, and synchronization and maintenance of 30 caliber machine guns on B17 and

B24 planes. He again received a promotion to Staff Sergeant in February of 1944.

Prior to a bombing mission he was working on a malfunctioning bomb track in a plane and had just completed the re-

pair when he suddenly realized the plane was starting to taxi down the runway and hopped off just in time. Close Call!!

With the war ending in Europe the troops were flown home. They stopped to refuel in Greenland and the person servic-

ing the plane did not replace the gas tank cap on one of the tanks. There was no turning back to land as every few sec-

onds another plane was taking off. That was what you call coming in on a wing and a prayer!! He was home on a short

leave and figured he was headed to the Pacific theater when Japan surrendered. He was discharged September 14, 1945.

Verle and his brother Elmo, returning to farming in the Akron, CO, area on land which their father purchased with

money they had sent home from their meager army pay. He married Doris on April 3, 1949. She had two girls by a pre-

vious marriage and together they had a boy and a girl. Verle “retired” in 1989, but remained actively involved in the

farm for a few more years and passed away at the age of 88 on September 23, 2003.

PVSH Soldier

Salute to Glenn Lewton’36

Glenn was born in eastern Kansas on September 13, 1917. Glenn followed the same pattern of schooling as the previ-

ous siblings, and entered PVHS in the fall at the beginning of his junior year and graduated in 1936. He also worked on

the farm in the summer and went to business school in Denver during the winter and hauled coal for the Stites Cola

Company to pay his board and room and tuition; again retuning to the farm in the spring and summer. Later on he

joined his brothers in California and worked for Lockheed Aircraft assembling airplanes. He enlisted in the Army Air

Corps in 1942 in preference to being drafted into the regular Army.

He, like his older brother, Verle, was sent to several bases in the U.S., including Lowry Air Base in Denver, prior to be-

ing sent to Gowen Field at Boise, ID., where he spent most of his time being an instructor on the gunnery range. He was

on his way to the troop train to be sent overseas more than once, when his commanding officer pulled him back to re-

main the instructor on the gunnery range. After completing 43 months in the service he was discharged with the rating

of Buck Sargent in October, 1945. Glenn married in 1949 and His children all graduated from Weld Central.

Elmo was born February 14, 1920, on the family farm six miles south and one and a quarter miles east of Prospect. He

attended Sunnyvale School through the tenth grade and transferred to PVHS to finish the two remaining years of high

school, as Sunnyvale only had a ten-grade school. He graduated in 1938, and had worked in the Douglas Aircraft factory

for a couple of years. As the world became more involved in turmoil he quit the aircraft factory and worked at the Naval

Training Center for a short time before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in November of 1942.

He was only in the service about four or five months before shipping overseas from a camp in Missouri. During his pre-

overseas time he was allowed to come home over night once. He was assigned to the 5th Army Air Corps, 45th Wing, 375

Group. They were sent to Australia to get things organized for the advancement up through the islands. This included

New Zealand, New Guinea, and Iwo Jima, the Marshall and Marianna Islands, the Philippines and on to Japan from

where he was sent home after Japan surrendered.

Some of the few stories that he told was in regards to the snakes that were as large as logs and when coiled were about

four feet tall. He also experienced many of the monsoons and their struggle to keep the tents up. In the thirty months he

spent in the South Pacific he had malaria more than once. His return was via boat in which they were caught in a storm

at sea. A fellow ship had mechanical problems and they were forced to stay close by in case the other buddies had to

abandon ship. They feared they would not make it home after all. He was discharged with the rank of Master Sergeant

from Fort Logan in Denver in October, 1945.

He and his brother Verle, returned to farming at Akron, CO, on the land their father had invested in from the money

they sent home from their meager pay while in the service. He later married and he and his family later moved to Mis-

souri to do ranching and farming. He still resides there with his sons and daughter nearby. He had his 88th birthday last

February.

Lynn was born February 14, 1923, at home in Colorado where he lived all of his life except when he was in the service.

He started to school at PVHS in the school year of 1938-39 as a sophomore and graduated in 1941. He also worked on the

farm until he joined the US navy in 1943. He as sent to the US Naval Training Center at Farragut, ID and assigned to

Company 574, Regiment 4, Battalion 16, which was composed of 118 men. He also spent time at the Great Lakes Naval

Training Center near Chicago, which is still operating today.

Most of his service time was in the Pacific theater. He was the only one of the four brothers to receive any injury dur-

ing the war and that was a piece of shrapnel in one of his toes.

The only stories he related about his war experience was of the food they had to eat, which was more than many had, but

they learned that before they ate the bread they needed to hold it up to the light to remove any weevils that might have

been hitch-hikers! He also told about the problems of trying to hold onto their trays and eat at the

same time when they were in rough seas. His ship, the USS Wyandot, was crippled one time while

they were in battle.

Prior to the war ending his ship was sent to the east coast via the Panama Canal. It was while he

was there that he met his future wife who was in the Cadet Nurses Training Program. He was

discharge on May 8, 1946. They were married May 9, 1946. He stayed there until she had some

leave and they came back to the farm. He stayed to help at the farm until she finished her train-

ing the following February. On August 22, as he was plowing in the field a sudden rain storm

started. He sat the worst part of the storm out in the protection of a tractor wheel. When it let up

he proceeded to the house and was struck by lighting en route. He now rests in Elmwood cemetery in Brighton.

PVHS Soldier

Salute to Elmo Lewton’38

PVHS Sailor

Salute to Lynn C. Lewton’41

USS Wyandot