Delta Alumni Banquet

The 127th Delta Alumni Banquet was held on June 3, 2023, at the former Delta School building. Guests began arriving at 3:30 p.m. entering at the northeast manual training classroom door. Beverages were served during the social time. Interesting visiting and reminiscing shared amongst the 49 guests. The 1961 class was the last to graduate from Delta High School. Attendees also enjoyed looking at the gallery of high school composites. The classes of 1953, 1958, and 1963 were honored. 

Reservations were made to June Rice (SHS-1965) of Delta. She also made name tags and orange programs. The programs included the honored class lists, officers, committees and alumni trivia throughout the years. Dean Herrick (1957) of Ottumwa provided the PA system. Tables were decorated with the former Delta High School colors, black and orange. 

Building improvements have been made due to funding from the Keokuk County Community Endowment Fund. A large painting of the Covered Bridge and Park has been donated and will be displayed in the large meeting room. 

President Dixie Strong Shipley (1961) of Delta welcomed the group. Veterans were recognized, thanked, and applauded. Linda Leathers Crouse (SHS 1963) of Sigourney led the Delta Alumni in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Dwight Abrams (1960) of Plymouth, MN gave the invocation. All enjoyed a delicious dinner of ham and chicken served at 5:30 p.m. by Home Town Café owner, Steve Morrow of Millersburg. 

Members of the special classes were introduced. Shirley Moore Steinhart read the history of the 1953 class and Janet Short Walker read the 1958 history. Class members of 1953 in attendance were Pete Baird (Sigourney), Junior Herrick (Oskaloosa), Shirley Moore Steinhart (Sigourney), and Leon Streigle (Delta). They graduated from DHS 70 years ago. Class members of 1958 in attendance were Christie Malone Kerr, (Sigourney), Wallace Lippard (Oskaloosa), Dick Walden (Delta), and Janet Short Walker (Oskaloosa). Graduation from DHS was 65 years ago. Maxine Abrams Doty (Oskaloosa) and Linda Leathers Crouse (Sigourney) were recognized from the class of 1963 and graduated from Sigourney High School. 

The graduate traveling the greatest distance was Dwight Abrams (1960) from Plymouth, MN. Shawn Stanley attended and traveled the farthest from Plano, Texas. 

The winners of the free tickets for the 2024 banquet are Wallace Lippard (1958) and Phyllis McNabb Toy (1957) of West Des Moines. Door prize winners were Dwight Abrams and Shawn Stanley of Texas. 

The business meeting was held with the officers being elected: President Dixie Shipley,

Vice-President Sharon Jacobs, Secretary Phyllis Toy, and Treasurer June Rice. The 2022 minutes and financial reports were placed on all the tables for the attendees to read. They were approved as presented. 

An auction was held with Dean Herrick serving as auctioneer. Items sold included 6 Delta High School yearbooks and a 1955 graduate photo that were donated in memory of Betty Wright Hjeda (1955). 

Towns represented at the banquet not previously named are: Iowa City, Marshalltown, Ollie, Oskaloosa, Pella, Urbandale West Des Moines, and Kewanee, IL. 

If anyone would like to be notified or given a reminder of the 2024 banquet, they should send an address to Sharon Jacobs at 12154 260th St. Delta, Iowa 52550 or at 641-624- 2305. Next year's banquet will be held on June 1, 2024.