The 1950’s were the start of fast changes that would be seen in the next two decades. The great depression was becoming a faint memory and families were moving out to the suburbs. Kids watched Howdy Doody on their 12-inch, black-and-white TV sets and spent Saturday afternoons watching cartoons at the movie theater. 

 

Times were gentler and the consumer revolution was about to start in a big way. Milk was still delivered to the doorstep. 

 

All this history was transpiring well before all the Becker High School students of today were even a faint glimmer in their parent’s eyes.

 

Yet Saturday, the high school students held their prom in a setting befit of the days of James Dean, the Korean War, adding machines and jukeboxes.

 

The school’s party planning committee did a superb job of decorating the gymnasium to feature classic iconic images of the 50’s as well as color themes. Zig-zagging through the main floor was a lighted path leading to small platforms the couples could stop and pose for photos on.

 

The couples entered the arena under an arch that said, “Back to the 50’s”. Assistant Principal Mark Kolbinger introduced the duos, signalling the lead couples to move up one platform space to accommodate the followers.

 

Many of the young ladies sported colorful dresses and floral patterns that were accentuated by the vests, handkerchiefs or ties of the gentlemen. A simulated jukebox stood to one side of the room, decorated along the edges with string lights.  

 

The boys were well-groomed and tidy and looked well beyond their young years as they cavalierly escorted their dates along the covered wood floors. The young ladies looked almost unrecognizable as teenagers as they proudly walked confidently, arm-in-arm with their mates — while their gowns and jewelry glimmered in the spotlight.

 

 The Grand March commenced a little after 3 p.m., yet excited parents, friends and family members packed into the gymnasium starting around 2 p.m. 

 

After the march, the students and family gathered in the commons area to chat, take photographs and plan the rest of the day. Many students and parents departed for local parks and other venues to have group and individual photos taken in an outdoor setting prior to the dance later that evening at the Classic Hall in Annandale from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

 

The program listed 135 couple participants in the Grand March this year and they included:  1). Hope Amundson & Zack Olson-Burkman; 2). Taylor Schafbuch & Brendan Kolehmainen; 3). Morgan Steffens & Ian Kimmerle; 4). Abby Steffens & Ian Kimmerle; 5). Sam Pounds & Hunter Voulgarakis; 6). Heidi Voigt & William Schendel; 7). Hannah Kolbinger & Josh Herrman; 8). Miranda O’Brien & Reno Ziebarth; 9). Jada Rositas & Christian Hanowski; 10). Deedra Lawrence & Jordan Bonsante; 11). Tate Spinner & Jon Novak; 12). Lexi Michels & Mitchell Johnston; 13). Alyssa Thiesse & Noah Arrigoni; 14). Emily Brovold & Qadry Fakhreddine; 15). Alayna Roske & Daniel Leason; 16). Jazmine Boeshans & Aiden Bauer; 17). Erin Fagin & Tyler Schmitz; 18). Ali Bloom & Andrew Berglund; 19). Sierra Hietala & Dawson Thom; 20). Kami Ziebarth & Ryan Good; 21). Kelsi Halvorson & Jordan Klinker; 22). Carly Pruszinske & Colton Reiter; 23). Payton Bernstrom & Bryce Boser; 24). Georgia Thom & CJ Howard; 25). Kassidy Severson & Austin Hemmelgarn; 26). Rachel Eisenreich & Luke Pappenfus; 27). Macy Eigen & Jacob Drury; 28). Mikayla Hiltner & Ryan Nohner; 29). Bridget Buchholz & Tyler Lindquist; 30). Allison Schmidt & Rhiley Larson; 31). Rachel Tauer & Brandon Olson; 32). Marlee Louden & Brady Gruenhagen; 33). Haley Hubbard & Lucas Dertinger; 34). Megan Hoppe & Weston Schug; 35). Brinley Zoller & Ryan Rasmussen; 36). Claire Thorn & Jacob Lindgren; 37). Maddie Schmidt & Branden Roemer; 38). Lauren Brower & Josh Ludens; 39). Sam May & Austin Rasmussen; 40). Grace Roehl & Mason Seeley; 41). Carolyn Lyon & Sidney Boros; 42). Abby Maruska & Gage Gallus; 43). Tina Martell & Brandon Cichy; 44). Carly Baumgartner & Adam Bauman. 45). Julia Abfalter & Logan Boyer; 46). Reilly Cencer & Caleb Peterson; 47). Jessie Charbonneau & Justin Reichle; 48). Jamie Ulsby & Nate Bujarski; 49). Abby Gorecki & Erin Moore; 50). Abby Fingarson & Jaylin Hildebrandt; 51). Kaitlyn Janisch & Tanner Kiffmeyer; 52). Payton Anderson & Jack Conzemius; 53). Kaylyn Wiehle & Mason Platz; 54). Kayla Mittlestaedt & Jake Anderson; 55). Renee Tripp & Brandon Gustafson; 56). Megan Peterson & Hunter McCalla; 57). Ellie Schwartz & Ryan Murname; 58). Haley Benda & Brett Reichle; 59). Megan Swanson & Mitchell Dale; 60). Nicole O’Brien & Ramon Burke; 61). Vanessa Gilles & Zane Pepel; 62). Megan Dudek; 63). Emma Gorecki & Dalton Chouinard; 64). Kylie Schmidt & Wiatt Alberston; 65). Lori Gudim & Parker Friedman; 66). Adair Friedman & Cody Case; 67). Paige Pappenfus & Mitchell Enerson; 68). Blair Pappenfus & Nate Croal; 69). Allison Hendrickson & Justin Kringler; 70). Taylor Pawlicki & Jack Schulz; 71). Summer Somrock & Alex Stanz; 72). Emily Kotten & Cole Benson; 73). Josie Berger & Tate Weise; 74). Jade Marquette & Evan Epperly; 75). Megan Nelson & Jordan Rogers; 76). Morgan Peterson & Nathan Bachman; 77). Sydney Lamott & Ryan Schinnelman; 78). Jessie Robertson & Conner Welle; 79). Cecelia Schmitz & Mitch Sonneker; 80). Savannah Janett & Max Artmann; 81). Kylee Pudas & Blake Angell; 82). Ashley Miller & Zach Zabinski; 83). Lauren Gizzi & Daniel Garcia; 84). Aubree Lahr & Frankie Baker; 85). Emily Murphy & Colten Demant; 86). Brookelyn Beutz & Marshal Kramer; 87). Rose France & Dylan Gruba; 88). Caylah Chonsky & Brady Sheeley. 89). Alora Nelson & Kendal Hanson; 90). Kaitlyn Welles & Kreedon Blomquist; 91). Maddie Frank & Brandon Abrahamson; 92). Amy Kreuz & Tyler Schmidt; 93). Alli Garding & Andrew Schneider; 94). Kendra Peterson & Dawson Lane; 95). Sadie Ziegler & Ryan Sommerdorf; 96). Kirsten Fitzgerald & Evan Wraspir; 97). Daisy Kent & Jayden Gruba; 98). Macy Erson & Kyle Schroeder; 99). Charlize Whitt & Reed Erson; 100). Gabrielle Proefrock & Thomas Gasperlin; 101). Sophi Gunderson & Carter Garding; 102). Maria Sakry & Jacob Piehl; 103). Sarah Garding & Brandon Blomgren; 104). McKenna Anderson & Brandon Barsody; 105). Melody Swanson & Andrew Reed; 106). Hailey Hamacher & Zach Anderson; 107). Karen Schroeder & Brandon Pohlmann; 108). Alexia Olson & Austin Marx; 109). Lauren Michels & Mitchell Bentley; 110). Kelli Lumley & Casey Carik; 111). Nicole Knudsen & Jarrod Favilla; 112). Hana Reiter & Drake Hegge; 113). Emily Pike & Cole Forner; 114). Nikki Timmerman & Cale MacMillan; 115). Sierra Vilmo & Evan Girtz; 116). Tatum Storkamp & Jake Reibel; 117). Morgan Meyer & Nick Radunz; 118). Allyna Storms & Timothy Line; 119). Emily Krogstad & Noah Klinker; 120). Holly Rowland & Sami Stellamch; 121). Jasmine Johnson & Michael Bloss; 122). Andi Hinther & Jordan Gohman; 123). Cindy Corrigan & Dylan Hamacher; 124). Kierra Zenner & Cole Sakry; 125). Bailee Thorson & Zach Halvorson; 126). Chloe Wilson & Gavin Jenkins; 127). Brianna Klinepier & Luke Ingram; 128). Kelsey Corrigan & Chris Kirchoff; 129). Eva Thiry & Zach Hollen; 130). Ellie Lawrence & Nick Tillman; 131). Kalley Goebel; 132). Alyssa Theilen & Jake Smith. 133). Isabelle Proefrock & Ellie Goth; 134). Ronnie Theis & Austin Benkowski; 135). Heather Lawson & Dylan Laudenbach; 136). Gabby Klinkenborg & Adam Ellis; 137). Alenita Maurer & Kyle Olson; 138). Caitlynn Bush & Nathan Oys; 139). Abby Becker & Mason Makarrall; 140). Sidney Westin & Max Salvevold; 141). Macy Salvevold & Max Becker; 142). Kaitlyn Woehrle & Evan Rau; 143). Autumn Schultz & Brandon Schroepfer; 144). Mikayla Goebel & Mykyta Stiepchenkov; 145). Jasmine Lee & Porter Johnson; 146). Alura Pierce & Ailee Titcomb; 147). Kay Loven & Blake Sandbo; 148). Sarenity Klein & Elijah Hansen; 149). Erin Schonberg & Evan Schafer; 150). Sam Moonen & Brady Roesler; 151). Kendra Gorman & Tyler Russell; 152). Jenna Swalboski & Ethan Quill; 153). Jazmin Brown & Daniel Solsvig; 154). Sidney Eich & Michael Dominguez; 155). Caitlin Kern & Noah Kalla; 156). Morgan Tillmann & Ashley Volk; 157). Angelle Spaeth & Braden Melchert; 158). Frankie Persons & Jared Anderson; 159). Kylee Martell; 160). Kiyanah Kalah & Matt Wilson; 161). Jackson Fluck; 162). Liz Baxter; 163). Mary Goenner; 164). Faith Zinken; 165). Jalissa Johnson; 166). Emily Lipinski; 167). Dennis Hemminger; 168). Michaela Klein & Angel Schneider; 169). McKenzie Tollefson & Chandler Wiltsey; 170). Grace Brown.

 

Prom attendants were: Bryanna Edling, Belinda Edling, Victoria Kolbinger, Sydney Stommes, Allie Gorman, Hannah Bengtson, Dani Cook, AJ Buntrock, Kaj Fritsch, Braeden Beutz and Nathaniel Hed.

 

Prom committee members were: Grace Brown, Grace Welinski, Blair Pappenfus, Luke Pappenfus, Paige Pappenfus, Georgia Thom, Sam Moonen, Alison Bloom, Holly Rowland, Allison Schmidt and Adair Friedman.

 

The 2017 prom committee send their thanks to the high school custodial staff, Kendra Orrock, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Rose Peterson, Lommel Photography and the high school administration