- Travel west on Grand Ave to Shiloh Road (40th St. West)
- Bear right at the round-about onto Shiloh (heading North)
- Continue on Shiloh to Rimrock; turn left on Rimrock
- Continue on Rimrock to 46th St. West; turn left
- Continue on 46th St. to the park (road dead ends)
- Turn left on Rangeview Drive
- Take the first right onto Ridgewood Lane S
- Continue to 4356 Ridgewood Lane S, approximately 2 blocks
- Janice's home is on the right-hand side
We are expecting a large turnout for the coffee/brunch. This will be an excellent opportunity to visit and mingle with classmates in an informal setting.
BIOGRAPHIES
Michael Pelatt
WOW - 50 years and counting! I just remember when I was growing up, my father attended a number of class reunions over the years for Billings High. However, the closer he got to the 50th there were fewer and fewer people around so he stopped going because it was too depressing! Here we are approaching our 50th and look how many members of our class our still around and will be attending the reunion. How lucky we are!
After I graduated from BCCHS, I attended Eastern Montana College for the first year and it was during that time that a friend of my parents suggested I read the book
Hotel by Arthur Hailey. That was all it took to create an interest in Hotel and Restaurant Management and off I went for the next two years to study at Washington State University in their School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. I did not stay at WSU rather I transferred to University of Montana in Missoula and graduated in June 1968. Uncle Sam was standing in the wings and I was drafted into the Army in August 1968 and sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington for basic training. After basic training I was sent to Military Police School in Ft. Gordon, GA which was an interesting eight weeks in a rather cold and damp climate to which most of 'us northeners' had never been exposed. Thank goodness we were all issued long underwear before leaving Ft. Lewis as it was most welcome in Georgia in the winter. Upon completion of MP school I was sent to Ft. Meyer (Arlington Cemetary) where I was declared excess and then transferred to Ft. Belvoir, VA which is about 60 miles from Washington DC. It was there that I was offered an opportunity to interview with the Armed Forces Police in DC. The AFP performed similar duties as the civilian police with the main difference that we dealt only with military personnel. I couldn't have asked for a better assignment and I stayed with them until I left active duty.
I moved to California where I started my career in restaurant management working in that field for the next ten years. The burn out rate for restaurant managers is quite high and I eventually succumbed and started looking for a 'regular' job with real holidays and weekends off. I went back to school to study computer programming and that's where I worked for the next 23 years.
I use the term 'retire' rather loosely because I became a stay-at-home-dad to our daughter who was 8 years old. I may not have been drawing a salary but I sure had a schedule to keep. It was a lot of fun and I was right in there with all the room moms serving cupcakes and helping with arts and crafts. I was pretty much the only father who was so involved but that didn't matter to me because Katie was so proud when I came to help.
All was well until our daughter turned 14 and for the next two years I was ready to join a monestary but my wife nixed that idea telling me that it was too late. Oh Mercy - the mood swings, the drama, the strange friends, the makeup, etc. etc. Then, all of a sudden she turned 16 and it was like nothing had happened and she became the most loving, considerate and caring child that you could hope to have. WOW! It was a miracle! She has now completed her first year of college and is looking forward to the next. Our son is almost exactly 10 years older than our daughter but they are extremely close. He is settled in Orange County, CA and purchased his first home about a year ago.
To say that I am blessed would be an understatement. We have two wonderful children in our 35 years of marriage and our good health to boot. On top of that I am able to return to Montana for our 50th high school reunion. Who would have thought!
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| Michael & Pearl Pelatt & Family |
Danita (Dani) Kelly
Hello to my BCCHS Classmates! David and I will be there for the festivities as we celebrate our 50th year.
I've so many fond memories of our Billings Central and of you who are as dear to me today as then. My BFF is Kathy Gainan Miller and we have a friendship that is over 50 years. I keep up with many of you either via email or Facebook. Each time I see your names or hear from you, it invokes such strong memories and transports me back to the good times.
You may ask, what have you been up to the past 50 years?
Enjoying life. David White and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage November 5th, his birthday. We continue to be a bi-coastal couple. We reside in the state of Washington and the state of Florida. We feel we have a better chance in the political arena by covering two states! Truthfully, we have an apartment in Tacoma, WA and we own a townhome in Trinity, FL which is about 20 miles north of Tampa.
While I continue to work, it makes my life easier to not have to commute. We try to be together in the Seattle area for the summers and go to Florida in the winter, IF David is not sailing in the Caribbean! I know it sounds crazy, but as long as I am working, it is what it is. David will tell you that as long as I work I do not have to live in Florida, and he is correct. Having grown up in Big Sky Country, it is most difficult to live in sunshine for a good number of days and 13 feet is the highest anything is.
When we have the opportunity we love to travel by air or car. We just returned in June from a 22 day adventure that included a 14 day bus tour of the UK, Ireland and Scotland. We had a great time and saw many things we would not have thought of, such as the National Irish Stud Farm, Trinity College and the book of Kells, the birthplace of St. Patrick, and the most important of all, the Guiness Brewery in Dublin. For sake of the length of this dissertation, if you have interest in Guiness, David will be happy to tell you about this beloved institution. One item off my "bucket list" was going to Westminster Abbey in London for Evensong. It was all I hoped it would be and more. We had great seats and the choir was beautiful and it's not just for boys anymore, as David pointed out a few young ladies as well.
I celebrated the end of my 40th year this past March and now into my 41st with Delta. In 1973, I left the medical arena as an X-ray Tech to take to the air. I started with Hughes Air West owned by Howard Hughes and subsequent mergers with Republic and Northwest Orient. Northwest opened a whole new arena of flying for me. I'm far less traveled than our dear friends Rickard and Jan Ross but flying is definitely in my DNA. Presently I fly to Asia and points south of Tokyo, which include Singapore, Palau, Manila, Taipei and Guam. More recently my travels take me to Paris, Beiijing and Shanghai. This coming spring, Seattle will once again fly to London. I also have the privilege of flying military charters with the men and women of our Armed Forces. I thank them every day for their service.
I've continued to be involved, as I have for many years, in securing rights for women. Surprisingly in 2013, we continue to take one step forward and on some days a couple steps back. I also call myself a Unionist, as in the work force, unions are sometimes, not always, needed.
David continues his retirement, relaxing and sailing when he has the opportunity. For those who do not know, David holds his own as a World Class Single Handed racer. He started a single handed race around the world, first run in 1982, and that race continues ever four years, though the name has changed a few times. It was originally called
Around Alone, then the
BOC Challenge and now
Vellux 5 Oceans. He is no longer "racing" in these events but we go to the start and sometime the finish, which is usually not in the US.
50 Years of memories. Seems like yesterday in so many ways. I'm glad we grew up when we did.
Recently a classmate asked me why I continued to work. Great question really. David asks me frequently. My reply went something like this. I still get great pleasure from working. Unlike other professions, mine has allowed me to interact with people of different cultures from all over our world. At this stage in my life and in my career, it is nice to know I can fly where I want, when I want. If a friend says, "Let's go to Paris and enjoy the Louvre", we do it. It is a luxury, I know, but it is one perk I can still enjoy and the easiest way to do that is work and have a layover where you can do things other than sleep.
By the way, at Delta there are five FAs who are in their 80s, about 20 in their 70s and a large group of us in our 60s. I have a seniority number of 632 out of 22,000 flight attendants. I started late but there are many more senior in length of service above me. In my base, Seattle, I am 51 out of 720 so sometimes I can't go exactly where I'd like but no matter where I go, I have a great time. People are my "hobby and it beats sitting and waiting for the face of God to appear before me saying, "Danita it's time to go higher than 40,000". That day will be soon enough so for now I enjoy everyone and everything in "my life".
A week ago on my flight to Tokyo, I met Don Wilson from The Ventures. WOW...THE VENTURES. I wanted an autograph to go with others I've collected over the years. He gave me three CDs and personally signed them to me. I was transported back to the late 50s, 60s and 70s as we talked music and groups and I admit I was once again like a mad teen. He was heading to Asia to do 50 performances. He is now 80!
See you in September!
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| Danita Kelly & David White - Red Sea -June 2013 |
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Danita Kelly - Blarney Ireland - June 2013
David White - Blarney Ireland - June 2013
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Jim Hickey
After graduation from Billings Central, I was fortunate to see Christie Gerharz's dad, Tony Gerharz, at the Cobb Field swimming pool in August 1963. As a result of that chance meeting, I ended up attending the University of Portland. It got me into that fine school and I graduated in 1967 with a degree in business. I often wonder where I would be if he had not helped me into that school.
In a campus interview my senior year, I accepted a job with Aetna, Inc. in the Employee Division with assignments in Connecticut and Minneapolis before Uncle Sam drafted me in 1968. By that time, I met and married Kathleen Stupfel, a business-accounting major at the U of P. In 1975 when our first son arrived, Kathy took up her lifelong passion and has become an accomplished artist. She paints in all mediums and loves it. We will be celebrating our 46th anniversary in December of this year.
After a year overseas, I got out of the service in 1970. Aetna assigned me to the Seattle office and that is where I stayed until I retired in January 2003. I was General Manager for many years and retired heading the National Accounts Division for the Pacific Northwest.
Kathy and I have two boys we adopted in the 70s. Ryan and his partner Garrett live in Seattle and both work for Aetna and Dan lives in Helena, MT, working at St. Peter's Hospital with his wife, Cory, a State of Montana employee and our two grandchildren, Mason (5) and Everett Jean (2).
In 2002, Kathy and I decided to make a move to the Oregon coast and build a house on some property we bought years ago. We live in Manzanita, OR, a town of about 600 permanent residents (although 6,000 were watching our July 4th parade this year), and we do enjoy the quiet life of the coast. Volunteer work is our main sideline as members of several boards, as well as city government. Help is always needed. We have great friends here and can't believe how the time goes by. Kathy has her own Studio/Gallery in Nehalem, OR, just two mile south of where we live.
I look back now 50+ years and still see vividly the friends, classmates, teachers and families we all grew up with. It was a special time and I think we were all lucky to have this great class experience that has lasted so long. I look forward to seeing you in September.
Kathy Gainan Miller
It's been great fun catching up with everyone via the blog (thank you, Elaine!). And thanks to the reunion committee for their great work for the "golden celebration". How can it be possible? Weren't we just at the Big Boy buying a nickel bag of pickles, a lime phosphate and then burning the point?
All things in the 45th bio are the same, except the retirement word has been added. I cherish each day of amazing children and friends, health, adventure, laughter and this whole new chapter in the 'life book'.
If you are ever in the PacNW or would like to visit, there is always a room, a micro-brew or bottle of wine in the refrigerator. We would love to share this beautiful place.
Thoughts to you all.
Claudia Lewis Brayton
From Billings, MT to Woodburn, OR, it has been an interesting ride. Culture shock from Billings, to Palm Springs, to Pine Ridge, SD to many places in between.
While in Palm Springs, I received my GED and attended the College of the Desert for two years, taking all general studies. I got married and had Michael and Annette. Finding I made a huge mistake getting married so early, I moved to Pine Ridge, SD where my parents had transfered and my father insisted I get an actual diploma.
I graduated from Pine Ridge Oglala Community High School. I had many transferable credits and went half time to high school and half to the local community college. I then, with the help of my parents, went to the University of South Dakota and graduated with a BA in Early Education. I returned to Pine Ridge to work as a teacher for the John O'Malley Title 4 Indian Education Program in their Head Start. I met and fell in love with a local Native American, Nelsen Witt and had two more children, with him also adopting my two older kids.
This marriage took us to many other reservations where my husband was the Director of Social Services and I taught any grade that was available. We were in Browning, MT, Rocky Boy, MT, Fort Belknap, MT and Rosebud, SD then back where we started in Pine Ridge, where I taught at the same school I graduated from.
During this time, Nelsen took a sabbatical and we moved to Phoenix, AZ for him to get his MSW and I got my masters in Early Education. We were there for two years.
We transfered to the Portland area where I again went to school to receive my associates degree in nursing. I wanted out of the education field. I soon went to work for the Assisted Living and Memory Care communities that were springing up all over Oregon. Nelsen and I grew apart and divorced in 1980.
In 1985, I met and married Gary. This man has been my soul mate now for 28 years. I was riding the waves of the country dance scene and teaching at a local dance place. We met at a dance and it was an instant attraction. Needless to say, he was a fabulous dancer. He joined me teaching and then we competed and became judges which took us all over the US, England, Scotland, Canada and Alaska as well as three cruise ships to teach and to judge. What an experience that was while still holding down the jobs that really paid the bills.
Our oldest daughter Annette died of cancer in 1999, leaving us her two wonderful kids to care for, thus the dancing was exchanged for ball games, PTA, Booster Club, parent teacher meeting, etc.
In 2004, Gary retired from his position as superintendent for the same construction company of 37 years and we purchased a cattle ranch of 1,400 acres. I was able to get a position in Hood River, OR and we moved into a 1910 log home on the ranch. What a wonderful life. I totally fell head over heels in love with the Scottish Highland Cattle and the ranch life.
In 2007, Gary's health began failing and we found out that due to Agent Orange while in Vietnam, his heart had taken a beating and he was unable to do the heavy work that the ranch demanded. In 2009, I retired, we sold out to our partner and moved to Woodburn, OR
after taking a three month road trip to decide what we were going to do. We purchased a small cottage on the Estates Golf Course where we look out on Hole 16.
Our children our scattered now in Boise, Spokane, Arlington, WA and Oregon City, OR. My mom at 92 still lives in her same house she has had for 35 years and is very active and continues to drive and care for herself. We are about 30 minutes from Oregon City where she and two of the kids live.
We have five children, six with our angel Annette, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. We spend much of our time when not traveling in our 38 ft motorhome, caring for our only great-granddaughter (the others are boys) and loving it. We try to get at least five months on the road.
Well, that is all that has happened since Billings Central. I still feel a part of you all since I went to elementary school with so many of you. I have been looking forward to this reunion and seeing everyone once again.
Claudia (Lewis) & Gary Brayton
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| Claudia (Lewis) Brayton & children |
Rita (Hestekin) Nau
Following graduation in 1963, five from our Central class hopped on the train and left for the University of Portland. I eventually switched to the University of Montana and earned a degree in Microbiology. I did a year of internship in Denver to become a Medical Technologist. From there I moved to Berkeley, CA where I worked and met Pat, a University of Idaho grad, in our apartment building. We married in 1971 and moved to Billings two years later. Pat enjoyed 29 years at Sysco, a food service company and I loved my part-time job at the Billings Clinic for as many years.
We have two sons, Andrew (39), newly married, who lives in Costa Mesa, CA and Jon (38), still single, who lives in Denver, CO. Pat and I head for warmer climates in the winter but enjoy Billings the rest of the year. Pat is a golfer and I am involved in bridge, a book club and investment club. We are both active in our parish, St. Thomas.
Life has been very good to us.
Rita (Hestekin) & Pat Nau and sons
Rita (Hestekin) & Pat Nau at son's wedding
