Photos -- Reunion -- 2025

 

Map

 

Automobile Rental -- Enterprise Rental -- Gasoline

 

Agenda -- Suggested -- Never Used

 

Oksol Cousin Reunion
Sept. 2-4, 2025
Best Western—Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center
Rapid City SD

 

September 2, 2025

3:00 p.m. Pre-social for early arrivals. 

• Minerva Restaurant and Bar.
• Jan will buy drinks for the first two to arrive. 
• Bruce will buy drinks for the next four to arrive. 

5:00 pm. Social. Minerva Restaurant and Bar. 

• Charlotte: announcements
• Jan: special announcements
• Bruce: Nordic Summer recipe
  

7:00 p.m. Early dinner for early arrivals.

• Texas Roadhouse: 2106 North Maple Avenue, Rapid City.

9:00 p.m. Late dinner for late arrivals; dessert for early arrivals.

• Nordic Summer recipe to be provided just in case folks have forgotten that recipe.
• Group vote where to adjourn, suggestions:
• Local Tally's Silver Spoon
• Murphy's Pub and Grill
• Firehouse Brewing Company

Midnight: group vote

• continue the conversation
• adjourn until 6:00 a.m. for first coffee

Wednesday, September 3: 
Events in the “Badlands” Meeting Room, Ramkota.

6:00 a.m. hotel cafe; first coffee

7:00 a.m. hotel cafe; second coffee

8:00 a.m. hotel cafe: third coffee

9:00 a.m. Jan arrives.

10:00 a.m: Formal reunion begins

• traditional breakfast prayer (led by Charlotte); link here.
• first breakfast commences 
• announcements and toasts:
• Charlotte: announcements
• Jan: special announcements
• toasts to those who could not make it to the 71st annual reunion, or the other 69 reunions
  
• those wishing to discuss politics will move to the Country Inn and Suites by Radisson up the road; transportation will not be provided. You will be on your own figuratively and literally.
• those wishing to listen to music other than country / western music will also move up the road.
  

10:30 to 10:45 a.m:

• second breakfast for some
• short break for others

10:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon:

• family updates
• starting with host (Charlotte) and then continuing in reverse order by seniority
• that would be:
• the youngest child of the youngest child of Paul and Christine
• Jan: will limit her remarks to five minutes
  
• Kathy: will limit her remarks
  
• then Myrtle's children...
• then Clara's children ...
• then Oscar's children ...
• then Edward's ....

1200 - 1400 (we now switch to military time): lunch.

1400 - 1500: Milestones

• where were the five Oksol siblings during WWII?
• after graduating from Newell High School, where did each of the grandchildren go?
• who of the five was the first to get married?
• Paul and Christine's first grandchild?

1500 - 1600: Trivia Game.

1600 - 1700: breakout session

• preparing for financial retirement (due to anticipated overwhelming demand for this breakout, attendance will be limited to only those who have not yet be retired) -- this is the only breakout with a fee to attend: $25: Richard 
• preparing for living on the lake: co-hosts -- Jan and Yvonne
• preparing for living in the heat: co-hosts -- James (Chandler, AZ) and Kathy (Tucson)
  
• preparing for living in places colder than Siberia: Karla
• preparing for living in Oakland, California: Beverly
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance / RV living: Charlotte
• modern art, updates: Connie
• living with twins: Paula
• growing up with Oscar, or "Welcome To My Neighborhood": Carol 
  
• how to transition from the plains of South Dakota to the mountains of North Carolina: John
  
• living with Carl: Bruce
• how to enjoy your grandchildren during the terrible twos: Kathy
  

1730: Dinner, Minerva's Party Room. Emphasis on "Party."

Thursday, September 4
     Check-out and Farewell     

6:00 a.m. hotel cafe; first coffee

7:00 a.m. hotel cafe; second coffee

8:00 a.m. hotel cafe: third coffee

9:00 a.m. Jan arrives.

10:00 a.m. Breakfast.

Updates -- September 2 - 4, 2025

l

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Updates

September 1, 2025, 2:16 p.m. -- taking a break at McDonald's, exit 67, east of Rapid City. About 30 miles east of Rapid City. Jan has just passed through Sturgis. I let her know that I will probably arrive Rapid City about 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Radio station, KUQL, 98.3 when one turns south of I-90 at Reliance, SD, headed for Nebraska.

********************************
Original Post

Nordic Summer:

• ingredients
• 2 oz Aquavit
• 1 oz Aperol
  
• 1 oz lime juice freshly squeezed
• garnish: orange twist
• cocktail shaker, fill 3/4 with ice; shake, 12 seconds; strain
• comments:
• Aperol: Italian apertif; gentian, rhubarb, cinchona 
• Aquavit: flavor from caraway or dill seed
• AguaVit: a type of Scandinavian distilled spirit (akvavit or aquavit), popular in Scandinavia and Northern Germany, is flavored with spices and herbs like caraway and dill.

********************************
Anticipation

Genealogy: many of us have collected data over the years trying to reconstruct their own family history. I'm hoping that I can fill in some "holes" of my own family history and the associated histories of my uncles and aunts.

From Charlotte, the first note, for the 2025 reunion:

Our last Cousin Reunion was 10 years ago in September 2015, hosted by Uncle Carl.  It was a great time for visiting and reminiscing about the "olden days".  At that time, we ranged in age from 51 years to 71 years -- in the best years of our lives, some would say.  

This year our range is 61 to 81 years of age!!!  I'm thinking we should make the most of this reunion. (If we gather in another 10 years, we'll be in the 71 to 91 year range, which might make travel difficult for some.)

Plans have been finalized for the 2025 Oksol Cousin Reunion on September 2, 3 and 4, 2025.  Check in to the hotel on Tuesday, September 2, gather, visit and eat on Wednesday, September 3, and check out Thursday, September 4, 2025.

A block of rooms has been set aside at the Best Western--Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center in Rapid City.  

Call and make your reservation on line as soon as possible, referencing the Oksol Cousin Reunion group.  If something comes up later, you can cancel without any charge if you cancel no later than 4:00 pm MDT - 24 hours prior to arrival.

All events will be in the Badlands Meeting Room of the Convention Center, with an evening dinner in Minerva's restaurant in the hotel.

I hope all of you can attend.  I'd appreciate a quick text message to XXX-XXX-XXX regarding your plans.

Attached are all the details for the reunion.  If you have any questions, call or text me any time.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up!

***************************
Attachment From Charlotte's First Note

Oksol Cousin Reunion
Sept. 2-4, 2025
Best Western—Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center
Rapid City SD
A block of rooms has been set aside at the Hotel.  Rooms have either one King or two Queen beds and are located on the ground floor.  (This is the same hotel where we dined the evening of our last reunion in 2015.)
Room cost is $129.00 plus 8.7% tax ($11.23) and $2.00 Occupancy Fee per night, or $142.23/night.  
The two-night stay will be $284.44.  Make Reservations as soon as possible to ensure availability.  There is no charge for cancellation if cancelled no later than 4:00 pm MDT -- 24 hours before arrival.  

You can call the hotel at (605)343-8550 and reference September 2-4, 2025-- Oksol Cousin Reunion 2025-Tile.  

OR Here's the link for those who wish to book online:
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.42048.html?groupId=Q58BC9D8
PLEASE NOTE: If a room type requested is not shown, you will need to call the hotel directly to make your reservation. (For example-if you need an ADA room or wish to upgrade to a room type not contracted.)

Hotel Amenities to Enjoy:
• Complimentary airport shuttle
• Complimentary in-town hotel shuttle (based on availability)
• Large free parking area
• Award-winning Minerva’s Restaurant and Bar on-site with breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour
• Refrigerators and Microwaves in guest rooms
• Complimentary high speed wireless internet

• Business center/gift shop
• Fitness center
• Large indoor adult swimming pool with wading pool and whirlpool
• Separate FREE indoor water park with 165’ water slides
• Within walking distance to over a hundred shops, seven screen movie theatre and many dining options
• On-site guest laundry
• Pet friendly-inquire for pet fee details
Tuesday, September 2:  Arrival and Check-in
(Later - Meet in the hotel bar for a toddy to unwind from your travels??? Text me when you are ready!)

Wednesday, September 3:  Events in the “Badlands” Meeting Room:
(Follow the hallway between the hotel Lobby and Minerva’s, take the first left and then the first right – Badlands Rm is on the corner)
10:00 am            Everyone gather for Coffee, Pastries and Conversation

12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm        Lunch Buffet/Deli-Bar
                    Sliced Ham/Roast Beef/Smoked Turkey
                    American/Swiss/Cheddar Cheese
                    Lettuce/Tomato/Red Onion/Pickles
                    Assorted Breads
                    Soup of the Day
                    Deli Salad (Chef’s Choice)
                    Potato Chips
                    Coffee/Iced Tea

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm        More Conversation and Pictures


Shared cost of the above events to cover Meeting Room Rental, Food and Beverages is $25 per person payable directly to Charlotte.

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5:30 pm            Gather for Dinner together in Minerva’s Party Room.
Tables will be reserved.
We will order off the menu and pay separately.


Thursday, September 4: – Check-out and Farewell                Safe Travels!!!