By Susan Edmonston
The Riner Cousins Reunion took place the weekend of July 17-19. The main get-together was all-day Saturday in the community room of the Protection Township Library.
Just before the potluck meal at noon, everyone filled a cup with Pepsi and made a toast to Grandma Ruby Riner who drank Pepsi by the case. Ruby also gave birth to five girls and five boys. All 10 are deceased but the cousins look forward every year to having this annual reunion.
Next is the list of the 10 children and the ones who represented their parent:
Waldo, the oldest child, was represented by both of his daughters Kay Cooper, Kansas City and Pat Mitchell, Wheatland, Wyo. and Pat’s husband, Steve.
Nevan, the second child, usually is represented by his daughter, Lana Barnes of Mesa, Ariz., but she recently broke her femur bone and was still recuperating from surgery.
Enid, the third child and first girl, was represented by her son, Steve Gunther, of Denver and grandson, Greg Gunther, also from Denver, and Enid’s grandson, Bret Loibl, of Valley Center.
G.T., the fourth child and third boy, was represented by his daughter, Trudy Eikenberry and husband, Don, of Scott City and his son, Bill Riner and wife, Sue, also from Scott City.
Ida Mae was the fifth child and second girl. Her son, Bill Foster and his wife, Carol, planned to come but Bill got sick. Attending this reunion were her son, Greg Foster and his wife, Donna, of Tecumseh, granddaughter, Mindy Foster, of Wichita and her son, Josh Moff, also of Wichita.
Velmaree, the sixth child and third girl, had three sons present: Paul Harden, of Benton, Phil Harden, of Ashland and Jim Harden, of Ashland.
Gladys, seventh child and fourth girl, was represented by her son, Boyd “BK” Vogt, from Ohio.
Billie June, eighth child and fifth girl, had nobody there.
Ted, ninth child and fourth son, also had no representation. He never married.
Richard “Dick” had daughter, Kim Monroe, of Jasper, Texas and her grandson, son D.J. Riner and his wife, Lori, of Tulsa, Okla. and daughter Debbie Brooks and husband, Doug, of Protection.
Sunday, brothers Phil and Paul Harden preached during the church services held at the library.
