Jill Dobson graduated from ISU on Saturday, December 20, 2008 with a degree in Biological and Pre Med Illustration, "communicating science through art." A reception was held at her residence in Ames. Jill is a 2005 graduate of North Polk HS. She is the daughter of Russ and Brenda Dobson of Elkhart. Grandparents Jerald and Janet Fessler were in attendance. Regrets due to weather were sent by grandparents Wayne and Flo Dobson of Gowrie.
Kevin and Mary Ann Hick had a variety of events at their home this holiday season. Liz came home from Colorado and brought her boyfriend Jason with her and spent 5 days in Iowa. Haven, Lisa, Henry, Brayden, and Charlie Hick, from Prairie City, also came and spent 4 days. All went to the Christmas eve service at the Rippey Methodist Church. They then hosted the Hick Christmas with Pat and Dwaine Milliken from Grimes, Dave Hick from Grimes, Ryan Stout from Jefferson and John, Rachel and Erin Betts from Boone. They enjoyed a potluck lunch and then a grab bag gift exchange. We enjoyed the time together as a family.
Friday, the Bardole family started to gather. Those that came from afar were, Donald and Alice Bardole from Davenport and Jay and Ellen Bardole from Vincennes Indiana. Saturday they enjoyed a potluck dinner and added Dick and Jo Bardole from Ogden, Roy and Phyllis Bardole from Rippey, and Peter, Yvette, Arthur, Avery, and Aden Bardole from Jefferson After lunch they had a grab bag gift exchange. The day was only damped by the flu bug that caught the Colorado visitors! The family time together was enjoyed by all.
Sunday, December 28, Michael and Jill Borgeson, Jace and Seth hosted Christmas for the Borgeson family. Those attending were Robert Borgeson, Jamaica, Alan, Sarah, Kane, and Kale Borgeson and Jean Borgeson of Rippey.
Christmas Eve services were held at the Rippey United Methodist Church at 9 pm. In addition to the Christmas message there was special music, a nativity scene by the youth and a candlelight closing to the service.
Phil Roberts recently spend a few days at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines for a surgery procedure. He returned home in time to enjoy the family annual Christmas Eve "fried potato and salmon" supper.
LaVere and Beverly Derry went to Glen Ellyn, IL for a few days prior to Christmas. They celebrated an early Christmas with Mike and Christine Derry, John and Luke. The Mike Derry family would be spending a week in Indiana to celebrate Christine's parents 50th wedding anniversary.
Allison and Jason Bardole and Levi of the Milwaukee area spent a couple of days in the home of Roy and Phyllis Bardole. Their Iowa trip was delayed and shorted by the threat of bad weather.
Randy and Deb Vodenik hosted a Christmas Eve soup supper at the Masonic Building in Rippey with over thirty family and friends attending. Many of the group attended the Christmas Eve services at the Rippey Church. On Christmas Day the family of Lois Todd gathered for dinner at the Masonic Building with 36 family and friends attending. Special guests this year were Randy Vodenik's sister and husband, Linda and Jeff Carter of Flagstaff, AZ. They had spent the holiday with Linda's mother, Pat Vodenik in Perry.
Dale and Connie Neese hosted a Christmas gathering at their home. Those attending included the Alan and Kate Neese and family of Grand Junction; Barb and David Ovenshire and children of Palo; Jonathan, Casey and Oliver Strabley of Boone; Jason and Denise Doerhoff of Ankeny; Brock and Kyle Grubbs of Des Moines; Rob and Cathy Doerhoff of Bondurant; and Stacy Doerhoff of Ankeny. The Ovenshire children remained in the Neese home for a week after Christmas. Steve and Dena Neese spent Christmas in Cheyenne, WY with Dena's family and visited December 30th with Dale and Connie.
Velda DeMoss attended funeral services Saturday morning for Jerry Sherlock in Jefferson. Jerry was the father of Beth DeMoss of Jefferson. Others attending the service from Rippey included Lori and Shawn DeMoss and LaVere and Bev Derry.
The weather seemed to dictate many of the holiday plans with snow, ice, fog, and severe cold. The DeMoss family had a new version of "Over the meadow and thru the woods, to Grandmother's house we go" As they gathered Christmas evening for supper their version was "To leave Grandma's house we must make a path through the pasture." With the lowering of an electric fence and a couple of pickups to lead the way all were able to leave and all got home safely. Guests at Velda's home were Marc and Shannon DeMoss, Zach, Michael, and Hannah of Rockwell City; Beth, Derek, Karli, and DeMoss and Doug Matthews all of Jefferson; Lori and Shawn DeMoss, Kyle and Bryce of Rippey and Jenny Welder of Woodward.
There are two new high rises in Rippey!
A very needed improvement has been made at the Rippey United Methodist Church with the completion of a bathroom project. Access to the Rippey Church has always been handicapped accessible but the bathrooms were not. With money earned serving the Rippey High School Alumni party last May, the addition of some memorial money and other donations the remodeling of the bathrooms were possible. Donations will still be accepted. The doors of the upstairs bathrooms were widened, partitions removed, and handicapped toilets installed for much needed improvements. The bathrooms are usable at this time and painting will be completed in the near future.
Kyle DeMoss & Coach Kevin Twait
