Gift 30 years in the making

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life editor

High school graduates always look forward to the numerous gifts they receive after putting in 12 years of schooling.

For members of the Palmer High School Class of 1975, however, their gift was 30 years in the making.

The class' reunion is scheduled for next week, and last fall, the class received an unexpected gift - a quilt made by Helen Dolenc, the mother of 1975 graduate Don Dolenc.

The quilt contains the names of the entire graduating class, and will be on display during the reunion.

"It's such a nice idea, and it was unexpected," said Helen Hulbert, a member of the 1975 graduating class. "She started it back then, and decided to donate it to us for our reunion."

Hulbert said she's hoping to have the quilt on permanent display in the future.

"I'm hoping that Palmer High School will put it on display at the school," Hulbert said. "Kind of like a lasting memory."

Hulbert said someone asked Dolenc why she didn't just give the quilt to her son, Don.

"She said Don would probably lose it," Hulbert said with a laugh. "She got a chuckle out of that."

The quilt is currently at Jolene Grover's home, before it is on display at the reunion.

Grover has come full-circle as a Palmer graduate - 30 years after attending as a student, she now works at the high school.

"Isn't that amazing? I never would have guessed I'd be back here," said Grover, who is a secretary in the counseling office. "I love it though. It's a great job. I have fun."

Grover said at first, it seemed a bit awkward to have coworkers who were her former teachers. Addressing them was particularly interesting.

"When I was a student, Mr. Irvine was a teacher, and now he's a counselor. I've gotten to the point where I don't call him 'Mr. Irvine' anymore, but I can call him 'Joe.' It took awhile," she said with a chuckle.

Yvonne Oliver, a member of the graduating class, said the quilt was a welcome surprise.

"Nobody knew anything about it," Oliver said. "It was a really nice surprise."

The class of 1975 had about 100 members, Oliver said.

The class reunion is scheduled to start on Aug. 19, at 5 p.m. at the Mat-Su Resort in Wasilla.

The quilt will be on display during that gathering, as well as at a picnic scheduled for Aug. 20 at the home of Reed Dilley, Oliver said.

All teachers, staff members and friends are invited, organizers said.

"There are still a bunch of us running around the Valley," Oliver said. "I don't know how many of them are planning to come, but I hope we have a bunch."

For more information about the 30-year reunion, interested people can call Oliver at 745-5496 or Dilley at 745-4924.