WE MAY NEVER PASS this way again. Ah, but we have. On a recent Saturday, I gathered with some 30 of my Wabasso High School classmates to celebrate our 50th class reunion. In Wabasso, a small farming community 45 miles west of New Ulm on the southwestern Minnesota prairie.
I’ve attended many reunions through the decades since 89 of us graduated in May of 1974. I’ve enjoyed every gathering, especially those in latter years when no one cared any more about who was a jock or an academic achiever or a wild one or any label we may have carried through our high school days. Today we are simply individuals who share a history of attending school together. Learning. Having fun. Making memories.
Coming of age in the 1970s during the Vietnam War, we were a bit of a rebellious bunch testing our teachers’ patience. I was among those who wore a prisoner of war bracelet, embraced the peace symbol, wrote anti-war poetry. Mostly, though, I was quiet, studious, a rule follower. But I did blaze the way for young women at my high school by becoming the first girl to join the WHS Future Farmers of America Chapter. Decades later, a niece would become the state FFA president.
No one cared about any of that when we got together 50 years later, first touring the halls of our former school. Home of the Rabbits. Yes, Rabbits. Wabasso, meaning “white rabbit,” comes from the Dakota language. I’m proud of our school mascot, which is unique and connects to the history of the region. It honors the town name and the Dakota people who were the original inhabitants of this land and still live in the nearby Upper and Lower Sioux Indian communities.
As the superintendent of schools led us through the school, I found myself drawn to the many artistic renditions of Thumper, our rabbit mascot. I don’t care for the updated, fierce version that now graces a wall in the new gymnasium. It’s not that I oppose change. I just don’t like the mean look on the rabbit’s face, his appearance of being on steroids. No thank you. I much prefer the old rabbit, the one that appears gentle and friendly. Thankfully, plenty of the original Thumpers remain in a school building I barely recognize.
Building additions, removal of the storied stack, shuffling and changing of classrooms altered the school significantly. The home economics room is now the art room. The shop a classroom. The cafeteria is new, spacious, bright and beautiful. And the new library, although much brighter and modern in appearance, holds far fewer books than the library of my high school years, something several of us noticed and mentioned to the superintendent.
What I did notice, too, was a closeness I felt among classmates as we walked hallways and classrooms and even the old locker rooms. That feeling remained after the tour, down at the Roadhouse Bar & Grill. There we perused photos and memorabilia. Hugged. Laughed. Mourned the loss of 15 classmates. Built burgers at the burger bar. Gathered outside for a group photo. Clustered around patio tables for conversation as the sun set, brushing the sky in a subtle pink hue. All the while the ventilation fans from the grain bins across the street roared in a steady din.
“We May Never Pass This Way Again.” That titled the Seals & Croft tune we chose as our class song. It was our second choice. The administration nixed “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road.” There was no mention of skunks—at least that I heard—at our 50th reunion. But Rabbits, oh, yes, Rabbits. We are forever and always Rabbit proud.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Glad you were able to go to this event. I have never gone to a class reunion but have stayed connected with many over the years who were classmates and fellow Muskies. Fun memories.
I’d encourage you to attend a class reunion. Your classmates will appreciate actually seeing and talking to you in person.
you might enjoy the book closer to home by Jill Hannah anderson a Minn author, it was inspired by a POW bracelet and you mentioned you had one during the 70’s
Thanks for the tip. I’m always looking for Minnesota authored books to read.
so glad you attended this very special event. how wonderful that your bond continues and the memories are shared, even after all this time, with trappings removed, you are all one again.
Got your comment, Beth. Yes, I’m so happy I could attend the reunion this year. A year ago I would not have been able to do so.
I had to chuckle at the first choice for class song, “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road,” a song I had long forgotten!
My classmates also seem to have broken down previous barriers posed by labels (jock, cheerleader, nerd, country vs town kid, etc.).
Glad I made you laugh. And, yes, we’ve all grown up and outgrown those labels.
Hi Audrey, Always fun to read your posts, and fun to see you at the White Rabbits 50th Reunion in Wabasso…..As a student of both Dakota and Anishinabeg (Ojibwa) was looking for the word in the Dakota – English Dictionary as was not there. Then I looked up the meaning Wabasso on wiki and found : “Wabasso was platted in 1889.[5] Wabasso is a name derived from ‘waabooz’ (IPA: [waːbʊːs]), the Ojibwe word for “snowshoe hare” or more generally “rabbit”.[6] The city was incorporated in 1900.[6] A post office called Wabasso has been in operation since 1900.[7] ” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabasso,_Minnesota
We know there is a Waboose Bay on Leech Lake in Ojibwa Lands. https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/waabooz-na – and curious as you were raised in the Dakota Part of Minnesota who there is a Chippewa County nearby too? Always curious 🙂 and Pidamiya Migwiitch for your writing. Kind regards, Tom Weaver 1965 Graduation of Faribault High School. Our 60th is next year! 🙂
Tom, it’s always good to hear from you. Sixty years in 2025! Wow. But then I thought that about 50 years.
Chippewa County is to the north of Redwood County, which is next to Yellow Medicine County (location of the Upper Sioux Indian Community).
Audrey, Thanks for putting the atmosphere of our reunion in words and pictures. I cherish each one of our class reunions. I love reuniting with people who have been part of my life since First Grade.
You’re welcome, Sharon. It was great to see you. I’ve known you only since ninth grade, but it feels like since first grade. Love you!
Rabbits! Interesting I was a Bulldog back in my day. We should have had our 25 year reunion this year but one was never planned
A Bulldog is an interesting name also. You could have a 26-year reunion. We had a 16th after no one planned a 15th.