Burkholder descendants gather at Hett farm
Descendants of Frank and Rebecca McHenry Burkholder met July 3-4 for a family reunion at the Earl and Frances Hett farm southwest of Marion.
This year's hosts were Nancy (Burkholder) Barutio, her husband, Bill, and her son, Mike McGarrigle. Seventy-two of the 144 descendants attended.
Family members enjoyed a pig roast, hayrack and golfcart rides, and rides on a trailer pulled by a riding lawn mower. A wading pool and horse tank were available for those wishing to cool off. Also, wiffle ball, volleyball, horsehoes, other games and puzzles were enjoyed by both young and old. New and old photos were on display.
Members married since the last reunion were honored with a wedding shower. They were Mary (Frazier) and Doug Hanson and Kesia (Frazier) and Jeremy Carpenter.
Jerry Burkholder manned the grill Saturday evening. The group enjoyed hamburgers and hotdogs topped off with watermelon. A hayrack ride to Aulne United Methodist Church for ice cream, cake, and a fireworks show was the highlight of the evening.
Sunday began with continental breakfast and family introductions followed by a brief memorial for deceased family members who died since the first reunion in 1988. Kathy Svitak and Gary and Marsha Vogel catered the noon meal of roast pig. Patsy Frazier, Hazel Lewis, Becky Winders, and Shirley Burkholder provided desserts. The day ended with a caravan to the Peabody fireworks display.
Those attending from Marion were Kevin, Kris, and Chloe Burkholder, Shirley Burkholder, Becky Vinduska, and Dusty Hewitt, Elsie Burkholder, Penny, Spencer, Trevor, and Sammie Fugitt.
Attending from Kansas were Patsy and Monty Frazier, Becky and Loren Winders, Kesia, Jeremy, and Jake Carpenter, Mary, Doug, and Taylor Hanson, Tawny White, Jeff, Jadyn, and Jeremy Burkholder, Danielle Turk, and Troy Becker, all of Wichita.
Hazel Lewis, and Bill, Leslie, Jared, and Katie Turk, all of Newton.
Ann Winders and Peter, Jane, and Travis Richardson, all of Garden City.
Morris, Tania, Katlin, and Luke Lewis, all of Valley Center; and John, Terri, and Erin Frazier of Andover.
Jerry, Pattie, and Megan Burkholder of Topeka; Stephanie, Larry, Shelbie, and Jacob McLain of Shawnee; and Dan, Debbie, Jessica, and Amanda Gulley of Desoto.
Out-of-state attendees were Bill and DeAnn Burkholder of Miami, Texas; Donald Burkholder of Kirkland, N.M.; and Elaine and Richard Elliff of Memphis, Texas.
Laura, J.J., Charles, and Rebecca Thomas of Natchitoches, La.; Jackie, Clint, and Jason Torgenson of Kimball, Mich.; Dick and Pat Keltner of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Kyle Keltner of Dubar, Wisc.; Nancy and Bill Barutio of Edisto, Island, S.C., and Mike McGarrigle of Goose Creek, S.C.
The next reunion is July 1-2, 2006. Reunion hosts will be Patsy and Monty Frazier and family. That reunion is likely to be the final time it is held at the Hett family farm. In 2008, the reunion will be looking for a new home.
