By Nancy Karnes
I guess I remember it being pretty scary at
first, from the country and one-room school. But I remembered Delores and her
sister from Reed School, plus we were sort of neighbors and all rode the Wilson
bus. I shared a locker with Delores and asked a lot of questions until I
learned where things were.
My Dad and his sisters had Syver for their
principal, so he often called me Evelyn, who was my Aunt.
I worked in the cafeteria lunch hour, washing dishes
with some of my friends. It was a steamy, hot job but we got to eat free! It
seems we were busiest on sloppy joe days and we had real homemade bread.
Anyway,
I see most of the memories so far are from Òtown kidsÓ so thinking back now,
some of the most fun and most enjoyable times were riding the Wilson bus. We
only lived three miles from Spring Valley, but rode the bus one hour prior and
one hour after school. We laughed together, had crushes and fell in love, sang,
did homework together, ate, slept, and shared. Ray Gunvalson was our main
driver and sometimes a sub Ð Rex Stockman. They took good care of us and liked
a good joke and to tease. Ray really liked to tease me because I would blush
and he wouldnÕt let up then. We went way to Wilson so had a lot of kids, upper
classmen mostly. I had such a crush on Roger Brandt! One of my best friends,
Nola Mondor and I sat together every day and saved a seat for each other. One
time Joe Menter had skipped school and Nola and I helped him write his 1,000
times ÒI will not skip school!Ó Ha!
Wilbur Fuhrman had his trumpet by his side every day
on that bus. Little did we know it would be his Naval career. And Ted Hinzman
and his trombone that he won a lot of state awards with.
After school let out, if we hurried, we could make
it to the drug store to get a nickel treat to eat on the bus on the ride home.
I always got a roll of NeccoÕs or caramels because theyÕd last a long time.
If we wanted to take in a game or after school
event, we needed to hang out in town after school Ð usually the bowling alley.
WeÕd bowl and eat supper there. Burgers and malts with real ice cream! And, or
course, cherry coke at the drug store! We would then ride the late bus home. A
lot of us were not able to take part in after school things as country kids
usually had chores they needed to do most days. I lived on a large dairy farm
with four younger siblings, so we all worked hard and couldnÕt stay in for
everything. And, of course, we did not drive. After the bus ride home, I needed
to change my clothes, practice the piano one-half hour before supper. Then my
sis and I did the supper clean up, dishes and I watched my siblings while my Ma
milked the cows. Then I would have to do homework after chores and to bed at 9
Ð 10 p.m.
I guess the bonding could be best described as
ÒfamilyÓ, the kids and friends on the bus. Good memories. Good friends.
My favorite classes were with Anna Kramer. Students
gave her Dentine gum for her bad breath, but she was a good teacher Ð typing
and shorthand.
One year I was voted FFA Sweetheart. I remember the
guys were all standing by the door, waiting for me to get out of PalecekÕs
history class so they could tell me. It was pretty exciting!
One time Franny Strom, Karen Hopwood and I skipped
school and walked to StromÕs to watch a World Series game, which was about
three to four miles, and then walking back into town to catch the bus home.
Syver stopped in his car and asked if weÕd like a ride! We had to write also
and he called our parents!
We always hoped for snowstorms so the buses couldnÕt
come, but they usually did, many times not even late. And we had more snow back
then.
I sat by Donnie Koehler most of my classes and at
graduation. We were very good friends and shared good times away from school
also. He and other kids came on weekends and weÕd play Flinch (card game) and
drank hot cocoa. WeÕd also go in car loads to dances and roller skating in
Ellsworth, Elmwood and Arkansas. We danced ÒmilesÓ and this was my favorite
thing to do.