The church celebrated with a Choir Alumni Reunion with more than 100 choir members from 10 states coast to coast singing praises during both of the church’s Sunday morning services. That included nine people who were part of the choir during either or both the 1930s and 1940s: Florence Applequist, Delores and Maurey Clark, Carolyn Lagerberg, Rosa Lee Neywick, Edna Mae Peddicord, Anne Ross, Jeanne Thelander and Ruth Weeks.
Several special honors were awarded. The former choir directors in attendance were recognized, including: Merlin Almquist, Rick Frisbie, Ron McWilliams, Rosa Lee Neywick, Edna Mae Peddicord, Marilyn Penner and Vickie Woodworth. Special honor was given to Applequist, who was the earliest of the group to join, back in the early 1930s, while she was in high school. Also receiving special recognition was the longest-serving member – Carolyn Lagerberg – who continues to sing 56 years after joining the choir in 1949.
Tracking down former members wasn’t easy. A choir alumni reunion committee was formed earlier this year and began gathering information. The only lists available were random and dated only to the 1980s. The committee set about doing its research, asking older members for names and mailing others who might have been in the choir. They also mailed letters to people who might have been members or knew of others who were.
In mid-June, an invitation to choir alumni reunion was mailed to about 240 people. About 30 of those were returned as undeliverable, while more than 150 were returned and approximately 60 indicating they would attend.
The effort proved worth the time. On Saturday morning, October 8, the current choir began registering the former members. “It was an almost surreal experience,” says Greta Lagerberg, the choir director. “Many of us commented that this must be a taste of what it is like to go to heaven and be reunited with those you love.”
An all-church reception was held following the final Sunday service. “It was a great time of reacquainting with former friends,” says Lagerberg.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.
