Our Yesterdays

A surprise benefit for Larry Morgan was held at the Rubio Community Building Saturday evening, June 14, 2003. Family and friends came out to enjoy an evening of entertainment and good food for a great cause.

Richard and Jo Swanson will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2-4 p.m. June 21 at the Prairie View United Methodist Church. J. Richard Swanson and Dorothy Jo Ann Aeschliman were married on June 6, 1953 at the Agency Methodist Church with Reverend Chet Waterman officiation. The couple’s children are Sandy and John Stevens of Grundy Center, Steve and Luann Swanson of Ollie, Scott and Julie Swanson of Ollie, and Roger and Ann Swanson of Hedrick. They also have 10 grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Leppert will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 28 with an open house at Mother Cabrini Fellowship Hall in Richland. Keith Leppert and Isabelle Adam were united in marriage June 27, 1953 at Saint Joseph’s church in east Pleasant Plain. The couple has five children and 18 grandchildren: Perry of Knoxville; Deborah Cardin and Mark both of Ottumwa; Denise Schrader of Eldridge; and Brian of Wauconda, Illinois.

Roger and Beverly Winn of Sterling, Illinois and Ollie were united in marriage June 28, 1953. They were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They are the parents of Sue Courtney of Richland; Jim Winn of Lyndon, Illinois; and Randy and Kim Williamson of Rock Falls, Illinois. They have eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren. Their children are honoring them with an open house at the Ollie Community Building June 28, 2003.

A card shower is being held in honor of the 50th wedding anniversary of Richard and Baja Hogan of Richland. Baja Cary and Richard Hogan were married June 27, 1953 at the Christian Church in Fairfield with Reverend Sam P. Williamson officiating. The couple has three children: Connie Hogan of Waverly, Debra (Dale) Walker of Thornburg, and Chris (Renee) Hogan of Springdale. They have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Joe and Janine (Gardener) Smith of Des Moines are the parents of a son, Reece William, born May 1, 2003. He weighted nine pounds, five ounces and was 21 inches long. He has a brother, Adam, to welcome him home. Local grandparents are Avon and Darlene Gardener of Hedrick.

Sixty-two descendants of Charles B and Amanda Morgan held their annual reunion at the Rubio Community Building in Rubio on Father’s Day, June 15.

A retirement party for Wilbur and Vivian Morfitt was held Saturday evening, June 7, at the Richland United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The Hall was filled with well over 150 people for the potluck supper at 6 p.m. followed by entertainment.

Eugene and Nancy Kessel of Ollie will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house at Mother Cabrini Catholic Church Parish Hall in Richland from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2003. Eugene and Nancy were married Jan. 10, 1953 at Mother Cabrini in Richland. Their family includes Brenda and Al Schultz; Glenda and Tom Widmer; Terry and Jerry Miller; Gary and Kaye Kessel; and Jody and Rob Pontious. The couple also has eight grandchildren.