Three celebrate birthdays

On Sunday, Jan. 29, several family members and friends joined together at the Loudon Town Hall in rural Beecher City to celebrate three big milestone birthdays and others.
The honored guests were: MaryBelle Ledbetter of Brownstown, celebrating her 90th birthday; Carrie Dodson of St. Elmo, celebrating her 80th birthday; and Cora Miley of rural Beecher City, celebrating her 75th birthday. Both Carrie and Cora are nieces of MaryBelle.
Others celebrating their birthdays were Michael Dial of Clarksville, Tenn., Carmen Forsgren of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Gavin Muma of St. Peter.
Helping celebrate was MaryBelle’s sister, Violet Braasch and daughter Sharon Dolly of Shobonier. Another sister, Leatha Rogers, was unable to attend, but three of her children were present: Raymond, Janet and Beulah Rogers of Altamont.
Those present from Effingham were: Carrie’s friend, Richard Cox of Mason; her daughter, JoAnn and Fred Wear and their children, Carrie French and daughters Zoe and Ava, Kendra Franklin and son Gunner and daughters Remmie and Harper, Kacie Volpi and daughter Isabella and son Cooper, and son Jay Johnson and sons Paul and Levi of Marshall.
Also present were Cora’s husband, Emmet, and sons David and Dennis of Beecher City; daughters Malinda Miller and Caria Klincar; Malinda’s daughter, Sasha Curry and children Kaylie, Andrea and Peyton of St. Elmo; Fairy Kline and daughters, Kathy Miller of St. Elmo and Shirley and Dan Zacha of Charleston; daughter Joyce and Jason Wells and children Aaron Hannah and Isaac of Beecher City; Kathy’s grandchildren, Paige and Jaden Miller of Stewardson and Karly Johnson of Shelbyville; Helen and Norbert Korte and daughters Wendy Goodin, grandchildren Mistie and Breese Stilt and friend Kayla Gallaher of Vandalia;  Zena and Tom Richardson of Ramsey; children, Zennia Snow, and daughter Shayla, and Bill and Sara Muma and Gavin of St. Peter; Linda and Marlin Guin, and Carmen and Robert Forsgren of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Michael Dial and daughter Natasha of Clarksville, Tenn.; Shirley and Larry Douglas of Decatur; Lou and Nelda Kline of Beecher City; Dwight and Glynnis Wright of St. Elmo; and Dora Miley of Beecher City.
Linda, Carmen and Michael are children of the late Charles and Louise Dial. Charles, Carrie, Fairy, Helen and Cora are children of the late Zennie and Lodema Dial. Zennie was a brother of Leatha, MaryBelle and Violet.
Helen Korte had three heart-shaped cakes baked and decorated by Dolores Dukeman of Vandalia, in white with red flowers, with the honorees’ names and ages on them. Fairy had also taken a decorated cake.
After a meal, those attending enjoyed visiting, looking at pictures that others had brought and taking pictures.
They also had several different kinds of cake.
The prayer was given by Marlin Guin.
A discussion followed during which the group decided that since it had had a big crowd at this last-minute party, they should also have a reunion during the summer. Arrangements will be made, and notifications sent out.