BPEF holds annual honors banquet

It was part comedy show, part rock concert – and a healthy dose of nostalgia Saturday as the Blooming Prairie Education Foundation honored its newest class of “Blossoms Forever.”
Blooming Prairie Superintendent Chris Staloch introduced Honored Staff Member Julie Naatz. Staloch, who nominated Naatz for the award, said the 33-year elementary school secretary “took great care of me as a young principal; her advice was usually spot-on. We solved many of the world’s problems – if only the world would listen to Julie.”
Naatz spoke fondly of the years she spent “sharing my life with Blooming Prairie students and families,” and admirably of the teachers who have never stopped evolving to meet all of the demands of education.
“There were triumphs and tragedies,” she said, “and if I was able to make even a little bit of difference for a student or teacher during those tragedies, I am glad.”
Naatz offered this advice to people who may not be satisfied with the job they have, no matter how long they’ve worked:
“Change. Do what you love, do what makes you happy, find fulfillment. I am glad to say I did,” she said. “I did.”
Brent Myers introduced his parents, Doug and Judy Myers, who have been nominated for the Distinctive Service award several times, said Sue Zwiener, one of the emcees for the night. They finally allowed it – though the couple insisted they still have much to do.
Doug, the youngest of eight children, and Judy, the youngest of four, credited their parents for showing them how to help the community and the ways to bring out the best in people – something Brent said they’ve passed on to the next generations.
They have “worked to make life and learning better” for students in Blooming Prairie, and Doug Meyer said, “look forward to doing more.”
They come by the teamwork honestly: “We’re 79 years old, and we’ve been together for 73 years,” Myers said. “I always like to tell people that when Judy and I are anywhere together.”
Dave Oswald, who graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1951, flew in from California to become one of the newest members of the Athletic Hall of Fame.
The youngest of 11 children – including eight boys – Oswald was a force on the football field and baseball fields, as well as the basketball court, his nephew said.
“In a time when the scores were 42-40, he’d score 25,” said Bob Oswald, turning to his uncle. “Right?”
“More like 30,” Oswald shot back.
He got a bit emotional as he started naming his teammates, before stopping and saying: “They were my good friends. They were great, and we played as a team.”
Oswald reminisced a bit more before thanking the Foundation for the honor and for bringing so many friends and family together, “here in Blooming Prairie, which is close to Heaven. The only reason I left is because of Dave Noble – I got too many speeding tickets!”
Noble was Oswald’s classmate, well-known for his love of auto racing. The crowd was still laughing as Becky Noble – another emcee and Dave Noble’s daughter-in-law – returned to the podium and Oswald took his seat.
Ken Behnken used props during his introduction of the members of three state-champion relay teams. It started with Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” which hit No. 1 in 1974, about 10 years before his teams hit No. 1 at the state track meets.
“This isn’t about Bennie,” Behnken said Saturday night, “it’s about the Jets.”
That includes Andrea Herdina Simon, Jeanne Kruckeberg Ide, Sheila Lembke Wiese, Lori Kruckeberg Mattson, Sue Ulrich Cook, Amy Noble Seitz, Heather VanRavenhorst Larson and Heidi VanRavenhorst Bell. Heather and Heidi could not attend.
Behnken seemed to remember just about everything about those teams – sometimes to the disbelief of the team members.
“I did not run that fast,” said Ide, who has seven state titles to her name.
“Yes, you did. I remember it,” Behnken replied.
He brought down the house a couple of minutes later, though, when he reminded the women: “You’re all in your 50s now, so… .”
But the word of the night was “family,” repeated multiple times by all of the honorees, describing both their own relatives as well as the members of the community.
“Each of us has a table of people here,” said Wiese, who spoke on behalf of the relay teams, “and when I think of that time, that’s what I think of: You guys in the stands, holding signs. And even when you move away, this is still home. I’m so proud to be a part of this town.”