Lovely spring afternoon for Lions Old-timers' Dinner in Chinook
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Russ Skones and Lois Butcher, seated at the table, enjoy a laugh with Cory Pierson, standing. Pierson, a balloon sculptor from Havre, was making balloon figures for guests at the Chinook Lions annual Old-timers' Dinner on Sunday afternoon. Pierson, the nephew of Ben and Patty Hall of Chinook, taught himself to make balloon sculptures from a book while he was recuperating from a heart attack several years ago. This is the second year for the popular art form-his specialties being dogs, giraffes, and snakes.
After what seemed like an interminable winter, last Sunday afternoon was lovely with plenty of sunshine and some of the mildest temperatures to date this spring. The Chinook Lions Club and Chef Doug Mitchell were set for 100 guests at the senior center. Club President Richard Cronk said, "After a record turnout last year and a break in this year's weather, we were expecting yet a larger crowd." Someone offered, "People may be home finishing up their tax returns." About 75 guests attended.
Whatever the reason for the number of guests who showed, it was a great meal put together by Mitchell and his assistant, Shirley Fisher, teacher at the Cleveland School. Lions and spouses also did some kitchen duty and served each diner a meal at the table. The menu was turkey (Mitchell said he cooked four), stuffing, mashed potatoes (the real things peeled by real Lions), brown gravy, corn and a fresh baked roll. Dessert was a "surprise," a lemon angel food cake from a recipe Dough Mitchell had never tried before.
The program was short-the pledge to the American flag, a verse of "Montana," and a prayer for the food by Pastor and Lion Jack Mattingly. President Cronk welcomed the guests and presented a certificate of forty years of service to Lion Dr. Larry Obie. Two other long serving Lions were honored in absentia, Frank Pherson for 45 years and Frank Sharples for 50 years of service.
Chinook Lions Dr. Gale Jellum and Ben Hall prepare jello salad servings during the Lions Club's annual Old-timers' Dinner held at the senior center. About 75 guests attended the event and enjoyed a turkey dinner prepared by Chef Doug Mitchell and his assistant, Shirley Fisher.
Two guests from Harlem were introduced, Irene Stout and Elsie Bertelson. Lion President Cronk, who grew up east of Harlem, introduced Irene Stout as "my second grade teacher." Cronk told, "A friend of mine once asked Irene what kind of a student I was. She told him, "He was the dumbest and smartest second grader in the school." Cronk added, I was the only student in the second grade the year Irene taught me at Savoy School.
Cronk shared a list of community programs that Chinook Lions support including the Lions Swim Team, Missoula Children's Theatre, Lions Scholarships for CHS students, providing American Flags to first graders and a number of other local activities. The club's only fundraiser is their pronto pup stand at the Blaine County Fair each year.
The Old-timers' Dinner started after a member who was also a local teacher, asked a couple of seniors to share stories about their memories of the area. From that the idea of an annual celebration for old timers developed. The "Journal" thanks the Lions for hosting this event for our seniors.
