Youngtown church members donate bell to Burdick church
By MARGARET IRELAND
Youngtown correspondent
(620) 382-2713
The Youngtown church bell was donated to the Burdick United Methodist Church and former members at Youngtown were invited to the dedication ceremony Sunday morning and the dinner that followed.
Diana and Clint Jost gave the children's moments and Clint told them the bell weighed 550 pounds and was 32 inches in diameter. They invited the children to see the bell in the lighted bell tower and even had one ring the bell. It sounded so familiar.
For years it was rung at Youngtown by Hob Razor and later by John Hayen. Often during the years I attended the Youngtown church, John Hayen invited visiting children to ring the bell for morning worship. This was always a thrill for the children.
Diana closed the children's moment with a poem written by Jeff Davidson about his memories of the bell. The Youngtown Quartet provided special music accompanied by Shirley Bowers. The quartet consists of Ray Davidson, Leonard Klassen, David Bowers, and Benard Stromberg. They have sung together for 45 years and range in age from 75 to 90.
We all enjoyed hearing them sing and Marilyn Cox preach. If you closed your eyes you could almost imagine you were back in the Youngtown church.
The bell was formally presented to the Burdick church by Cy Goertz and received by his daughter Diana Jost.
The dinner we were served was home cooked and complete with home baked dinner rolls and coconut cream pie. It doesn't get any better than that!
Youngtown people attending the event other than the above-mentioned were Eleanor Davidson, L. Dena Goertz, Alvina Hoffman, Roy and Rose Olive Hett, and Margaret Ireland.
Leonard and Rosalie Klassen attended the dinner Sunday night honoring the 50th wedding anniversary of Vernon and Rachel Friesen at the Cross Winds at Hesston. The Klassens attended a family reunion of Leonard's family last weekend. Forty-two relatives gathered last Saturday through Monday night at the motel in Hillsboro. They had their meals at Tabor College, except on Monday. The group had dwindled to 12 by then and they gathered at the home of Bob and Betty Seibel to visit and eat dinner. Arlene Dahl is visiting Rosalie this Monday. She came to Hillsboro Friday for the Friesen anniversary celebration.
The sunshine today is a welcome sight. I can hardly stay inside to write this news. It has been so long since we have had sunshine, I want to go out and enjoy it.
Eileen and Skip Sieger took Jeannine Bateman to the orchid show Saturday at the Botanical Garden in Wichita. Jeannine reported many beautiful orchids at the show and she brought some home. She has them in her bedroom and said the orchid fragrance fills the room. Kristine was home last week and brought friends, Chuck and Christa Blaes of Augusta. Maxine Cunningham of Nebraska also visited Jeannine last weekend.
John and Maurine Pruitt and Shari Bohlke of Wichita joined Skip and Eileen Sieger at Kingfisher's Inn for dinner Sunday noon, then drove to the Sieger home for visiting.
Howard and Beth Collett spent the weekend in Overland Park attending the festivities surrounding the wedding of Carrie Collett and Chris Parazin. The rehearsal dinner was Friday night at the Hereford House, the wedding was Saturday at the Church of Ascension, and the reception was held at St. Andrews Golf Club, all in Overland Park. Carrie is the daughter of Randy and Rachel Collett of Jefferson City.
Rose and Greg Davidson, Sarah and Rachel and Christine Schwartz attended the football game in Marion Friday night. Rose spent Saturday at the Wellness Clinic at the Marion Elementary School. Sarah and Rachel entertained with piano music Wednesday at St. Luke Living Center. The girls participated in Quiz Bowl on Tuesday. Their team took first place.
Saturday afternoon visitors at the home of Roy and Rose Olive Hett were George and Susan Bales.
Brent Hayen visited John and Dorothy Hayen Saturday afternoon. Dorothy and John attended church at Eastmoor Sunday morning and were joined by Virginia Downing for dinner at Florence following church. Dorothy is feeling a little stronger, but not well enough to attend the Burdick celebration.
Sunday dinner guests of Vicki Smolik were Edmund Steiner and Paul and Kathy Swan. Edmund and Vicki attended a surprise birthday party Saturday evening at St. Mark's Activity Center honoring Richard Schlehuber and Betty Medley.
Ray and Eleanor Davidson, Benard Stromberg, and Leonard Klassen were Tuesday evening guests of Shirley and David Bowers for quartet practice. Cy and L.Dena Goertz, David, and Shirley attended the Come Join Us Sunday school class Halloween party Friday night at the home of Bob and Judy Priest.
The Kjellin family gathered at the home of Charles Kjellin Saturday evening following the funeral and burial of Karl Vanek for a soup supper. Family members present were Mary Beth and Greg Bowers, Rhonny, Steve, and Luke, Karen Kelly, Pat and Daryl Enos and Mitch, and Doug and Amy Kjellin, Erik, Andrew, and Adam. Mary Beth took her program on wild flowers to the Prairie Pals club meeting at Tampa on Monday.
