We have extended the date for supplying us the answers to the 5 questions to Monday, July 14th. You can also make any changes to your answers up to July 14th as well. Please email the answers to the 5 questions to both Janis Bennett/Krepcik and Wayne Fischer. Email addresses are provided on the Contact Us page.

Note that 52 classmates and 3 former classmates have provided the answers to the 5 questions so far.

Albin to Farmer

Contact Information: Have mailing address, phone number and email address (Long Beach, CA)

My years at Filer High School were some of the best years of my life and were instrumental in making me the person that I am today. Looking at me, that may not be the greatest endorsement to Filer High, but I have had a greater life than I had any right to expect. It was the total joy of experiencing teachers like Mr. Glassinger, whom we never really appreciated until late in life, that were really involved with learning and development of us, as young people ready to go out into the world. The pleasures of a small, intimate school, where you not only knew everybody by name, but knew them well enough to call them a friend and felt their presence. We were really fortunate living and going to a school in an area where families, neighbors, teachers and friends really cared and the worst thing that you feared was getting expelled for a day for sitting outside math class on the window ledge (not that I knew anyone who would do such a thing!). Thank you God for letting me grow up where and when I did. Also, thank you for all the wonderful people that had such a large influence on my life. I also forgive Schroeder, Saenger, Huston and Lorain for getting me started on beer.


Serving 24 years in the Marine Corps. Where I met many lifelong friends, got to travel around the world, fought in a couple of wars, flew the Presidential helicopter for five years for Presidents Carter & Reagen, commanded a Helicopter Squadron and ended my military career by marring a wonderful lady, who now makes my life very enjoyable. In the past forty years, I have had great pleasures renewing old friendships. Whenever I traveled to different areas, I always tried to look up old friends/classmates and catch up with them. Some have perhaps gotten a little tired of my showing up on their doorstep, but I have really enjoyed seeing them again. Some of the classmates that I have visited (this is outside of reunions) are: Sue Graves, Glen Schroeder, Gary Saenger, Garwin Lorain, Norman Lohr, Judy Ward, Mr. Glassinger, Jack Ramsey, Stan Mai, Jim Patrick, Helen Kauffman, and Paul Huston. I wish I could have visited more, and our house in Long Beach is always open to visits.


The one thing in life that I have yet to accomplish is to learn how to take advantage and give thanks for all the great things life has to offer. Having lived a great life so far, I feel that I was always an "80%-er." I really didn't (1) learn all that was available in school, (2) enjoy all the great friends to their fullest, and (3) return all the love and consideration given to me. Life is really too short to not enjoy all the great friends/classmates we have been so fortunate to spend time with.


I continue working as a helicopter pilot, with over 13,000 flight hours, for a small company in Long Beach, CA. When not doing my much loved "honey-do's", I enjoy traveling the U.S. and Europe (have had enough Asian travel), tennis, golf, snow skiing and just being with my wife.


I asked Lisalee about this question and she looked at me, slapped her head and said: "Oh no, we forgot to have kids!" Having waited until I was forty-seven to get married, it just wasn't in the cards. Now my wife says it would really be scary thinking what a little Gary would look like and the trouble he would be. Thank god she never knew me when I was young or met any of you to hear all the horror stories.

Contact Information: Have address, phone number and email address (Bettendorf, IA)

After cheerleading with Arlene, Charlie and Sandy Davis sophomore year, what else could there be? Actually, it's really hard to pick out just one memorable moment. A few from junior and senior years -- the explosion in chemistry lab when somebody accidentally made gunpowder, and Mr. Glassinger's panic-stricken face at the door a moment later...Mr. Moran's ever-present boxing stories... Mrs. Gaumer's glasses-on-a-string (she was ahead of the curve on that one)... the colored lights under Wayne Fischer's wheel wells... dragging the "strip" in Twin on Friday nights... Bermuda shorts and tux jackets at the after-Prom party... scoring 2 points in my FHS football "career" (via safety in the end zone in... what game was that again?)... singing tenor in the All-Northwest Chorus Festival (now I can't even THINK notes that high), along with Larry Kohntopp, Karen Kirkman and Penny Bernardi... and, finally, standing in the receiving line after graduation and having this conversation with someone's Mom: (Mom:) "Where are you going to college?" (Fred:) "Iowa State." (Mom:) "Oh, you'll love Pocatello." And so began a lifelong geographical confusion that culminated in a T-shirt that's actually, I swear, for sale at the University of Iowa bookstore, which reads, "I'm a student at the University of Iowa, Idaho City, Ohio."


3-way tie for first place: wedding to Deborah, birth of Matthew, birth of John -- the intersecting centers of my universe. Second place: being the husband to my best friend and father of young men who are now immensely interesting, creative and (did I mention I'm their Dad) important human beings. Third place: Everything else -- with the FHS-'63 30th reunion at the top of the list.


Finish the Great American Novel. Go to Sweden and get acquainted with my long-lost cousins (unfortunately, they're still lost...).


President, a&a communications, a public relations counseling and business communication consulting firm, that celebrates its first anniversary in July. Gardening. Landscaping. Singing. Writing. Walking. Cooking.


With Deborah, wife and partner for 35 years:- Matthew, 31, married to Rhea Anne, living in Elizabeth, NJ, set designer and Emmy winner, for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," CBS tribute to Charles Schulz, 2001; - John 25, engaged to Gretchen, living in Brooklyn, NY, and this fall in grad school at American University's Rome, Italy, campus. No grandchildren, but a charming grand-dog, Charlie (he'll kiss your nose if you give him half a chance).

Contact Information: Have mailing address, phone number and email address (Mead, WA)

I remember Mrs. Gaumer's English class and though she wasn't my favorite person at the time, I've come to realize she taught me a great deal which has been an big asset to me over the year. I also appreciate Mr. Moran who understood my sleeping condition (narcolepsy) and knew I couldn't stay awake during his lectures in History and Government, both of which I HAD to take my junior year. He allowed me to get notes from other students after class so I could pass the tests. I also remember the fun times I had at the football games and being in the drill team. I cherish all the friendships I made during those years at Filer High School and will always treasure them. A couple other memories come to mind while going to Filer High School. One was; skipping school for an afternoon to Shoshone Falls with my friends and then getting caught when we returned to get our text books from our lockers so we'd be able to do our homework for the next day. That venture certainly wasn't "thought out" very well by us, huh? Another crazy thing that happened was when our class took a field trip to Boise to a museum. Bessie Ford/Anderson and I got left behind looking at artifacts DOWNSTAIRS. We didn't know the rest of the kids had gotten on the bus and left us there. We got a "thrilling ride" at a high speed in a cop car to catch the bus!


In the past 40 years, I spent one FUN year at Idaho State University trade school, ventured out into the big world on my own, and discovered it was very challenging and that maybe my parents knew what they were talking about. Ha. Besides the memory of our wedding day, the birth of our two children, their weddings and the births of our grandchildren, some other memories stand out in my mind; the travels around the country with friends in our antique and classic cars and going to car shows, the many gratifying experiences of helping educate kids in the school system as a paraprofessional (teacher's aid), retiring from my job and helping plan and build our retirement dream house. I love the pleasures our grandchildren have given me and have truly been blessed with good health, a loving and wonderful husband for 34 years! (Pat Krepcik, one of our classmates).


The one thing I still want to do is to travel more. I hope to go to Australia to visit relatives there, and to travel Route 66 in my '57 T-bird which my husband is restoring for me.


I am retired but find plenty to do. I love to do needlework, scrap booking, collecting & admiring antiques, floral arranging, and the great out of doors.


I have 2 children; a son, 31, and a daughter, 27. I have 3 grandchildren ranging from 3 months to 7 years.

Contact Information: Have mailing address, phone number and email address (Twin Falls)

I loved everything about our high school years--Band, Chorus, sock hops, basketball and football games, even some of our teachers!


Lets see if I can sum up forty years in a few sentences! After graduating from Filer, I attended a year at U of I.. Later that year, in 1964, I married Larry Walden and a few years after that we had two children. Larry and I have enjoyed many trips including white water rafting down the Salmon River several times; taking in the sights at Monte Carlo, Paris and the Bahama’s. We have also seen a lot of cities in the states.


I am looking forward to retirement.


I have worked retail sales for 28 years and I am currently employed by the Bon Marche. I have been with the company 14 years.


I have two children, Debbie and Wade. We have only one grandchild, so far, Madison Rae, who is six years old.

Contact Information: Have mailing address and phone number (Filer)

What I remember or who I remember while at Filer High School is at this point and time in my life not as important as I thought at the time. I don't think anyone in high school is even thinking during those years.. Its sports, having fun, getting book reports or any reports in on time, and wanting to have the years (4) to hurry up… You know I had a life to get on with, you too???


The most favorite times that I have experienced in the last 40 years was marrying my wife, Cassandra (Cass) whom I have know since was 7 years old… Her Dad's oldest sister was married to one of my mom's brothers. So we were cousins but not blood, so don't get excited and start the "gossip"… Having the honor of being a dad to three daughters, having one and then seven years later a set of twin daughters. Being active in their lives and all three of them graduating from Filer High School too. One in 1984 & the twins in 1991. Then in an 11 month period over 10 years ago, watching all three of them get married. Then 7 years ago a frampa (a.k.a. grandpa) to a very handsome franson, Nicholas Thomas, actually born on "Fathers day in 1996". I could go on… But it would take tons of paper and ink…


What I haven't done yet in my life is retire… I am still teaching at Filer Middle School, 37 years.


Mr present occupation is middle school Title One / Chapter 1, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys and girls that have differing abilities in math and reading. My major hobby that I love is bass fishing either from the bank or float tube. I catch and release. Travels have been going to Boise to see our grandson. To San Diego, California to visit Cass's parents (until August 29, 2000 her father passed away, so only her mom is alive). Going 5 blocks from our home to visit my parents here in Filer. On Mothers' Day 2001, I lost my dad, now it's only my mom. Cass as a nurse has been taking care of her after her fall, then a five heart by-pass and pace maker in February of this year, 2003.


Number of children 3: Mundi Blakely-Nelson, 37, Brandi Blakley-Bates, 30, Sonia Blakley-Heuer, 30, Nicholas Thomas Nelson, 7 (franson/grandson).


PS from my wife. Even if you haven't changed a bit yourself, attending any class high school reunion after a number of years can be hazardous to your self-image… What I will tell you is that at my last class reunion none of my classmates showed up. Yup, that's right they sent their grandparents instead. All of whom insisted they had gone to school with me... No way… I could not relate to those people. They had white hair or bald, fat or frail, stooped and lame. None of them bore the slightest resemblance to the yearbook pictures reproduced on their nametags. Whose fiendish idea was that? That's what clinched it… Proved to me they were all frauds! … I, on the other hand, looked exactly the same as I did back then. Well almost, except for a few interesting character lines, which only enhance my youthful charm. In fact, all the elderly people I talked with gasped when I told them my name. They all reacted the same way, their gazes shifting in disbelief from my face to my yearbook picture on my nametag obviously; they were astonished at how little I've changed. I could go on... However, after an hour or so of this charade the MC mercifully asked everyone to please be seated... Dinner was to be served… I prayed that the meal wouldn't consist of soup, pureed veggies, and jell-o. On the other hand, if it was solid food, I worried about how most of the group would deal with it. It would not be a pretty sight… I hoped a contingent of EMT's was standing by. I vowed I would never attend another reunion… Oh, by the way… this was my class reunion the wife of Jim Blakley whom did not graduate from Filer, rather from San Diego @ Hoover High, that's California not Porte Rico. Hope your 40th goes better… Cassandra… a.k.a. Cass.

Contact Information: Have mailing address, phone number and email address (Ellensburg, WA)

The small town atmosphere - how come it often takes us a lifetime to learn that the simple things are the best?


We lived in Taichung, Taiwan for the first two years of our married life. We really enjoyed the adventure, have many fond memories and our home is still decorated in "early Taiwanese."


We want to become grandparents, so we can spoil the grandkids and send them home to their parents. Also, we want to take a trip around the Pacific Rim - Asia, Australia/New Zealand and South & Central America. We have enjoyed hosting exchange students from around the world and enjoy learning about other cultures.


Still a banker, but the institution I work for has recently been purchased. The future is uncertain, so what else is new.... We enjoy trying to keep up with family and friends. Periodically, we chase little white balls around some beautiful landscapes.


Two - Kim and Mark. Kim (27) lives in Dallas, TX with her husband, Des. Mark (21) is in his 4th year of architecture at WSU. (Putting up with a Cougar is tough on a couple of old Vandals, but it provides some lively dinner conversations). No grand children.

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