Queen Lelia Kidman

1965's Queen of the May, Lelia Kidmanwas crowned by her consort, Gene Hiibner.

Lelia Kidman was hospitalized for an appendectomy, so May Day was moved back a week to allow her time to recover… however it rained on the new May Day so the celebration was held in the basement of the church onec again.

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Mendon Utah Logo

Mendon May Day— 1965

This Saturday, May Festival In Mendon Slated— Lelia Kidman, lovely young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Kidman, will reign over Mendon’s ninety-fifth May Day celebration this Saturday, May 8th, at 10:30 a.m. on Mendon square. She will be crowned with a wreath of spring flowers by her consort Gene Hiibner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hiibner. Members of her court are Julie Ann Peterson, Douglas Larsen, Claudia Gittens, Todd Olsen, Theresa Williams and Michael Buist. Tresa Quinlan and Douglas Leishman will be flower girl and crown bearer, respectively. Following the dancing of the maypole by thirty little girls, a program will be presented in the Mendon School gymnasium. In the afternoon there will be a children’s dance, races, ball games and other sports. In the evening the dance will begin at 9:00 p.m. Committee for the day are members of the Sunday school superintendency. Merlin H. Yonk, Fred Bowen and Lemuel Earl, Sr. Picture Caption: Lelia Kidman, center will be crowned Queen of the May at Mendon’s annual celebration this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Two of the members of her court are Claudia Gittens, and Julie Ann Peterson. Thirty little girls will dance the maypole.Lelia Kidman and her 1965 May Day Court.

Picture Caption: Mendon May Day This Saturday— Mendon’s traditional May Day will begin Saturday, May 8th, at 10:30 p.m. with the crowning of the May Queen, Miss Lelia Kidman. Dancing of the maypole will follow with thirty little girls participating. Members of the May Court are Todd Olsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Olsen; Claudia Gittens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Gittens; Gene Hiibner son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hiibner; Lelia Kidman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Kidman; Douglas Larsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Larsen; Julie Ann Peterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Peterson; and in front, Douglas Leishman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Leishman, crown bearer. Absent for the picture were Theresa Williams, Michael Buist and Tresa Quinlan, flower girl.

Picture Caption: Mendon Sunday school superintendency, Fred Bowen, second counselor; Merlin Yonk, superintendent, and Lemuel Earl, Sr., first counselor, are in charge of the town’s annual May Day celebration scheduled for this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the Mendon Square. Lelia Kidman will be crowned queen and thirty little girls will dance the maypole. The public is invited.

Printed May Day Program: Program: 10:30 a.m., crowning of the Queen and Maypole dance. The 24 Maypole Dancers for 1965—                                   

Karen Hiibner Jean Sorensen Janette Kidman LuAnn Baker
Gloria Richards  Marsha Leishman Doreen Sorensen Cindy Larsen
Loryn Baker Brenda Hardman Susanne Jensen Angela Cheney
Wendy Eglund Linda Sorensen Diane Humphreys  Karla James
Koya Baker Kathy Maurer  Karine Ladle Carrie Eglund
Tamera Gittens  Nicole Bowen Shelly Maurer Julie Muir


Morning Program: [at the school] Entrance of queen and attendants; song by congregation, “Come to the Woodland;” prayer, Carl Baker; vocal solo, Kay Dawn Jeppesen; duet, Connie and Lynette Rose; reading, Pearl Bankhead; vocal solo, Ted McCallson; trio, The Olsen Sisters— Cheryl, Shawna and Kathy; speaker, Richard Buist; vocal solo, Renee Peterson; entertainment, Arden Christensen and company; variety, Mr. and Mrs. Balls and family; remarks, Bishop Fred Sorensen; closing prayer, Carl Baker. Afternoon Program: 2:00 p.m., children’s dance; 3:00 p.m., races and ball games; 9:00 p.m., dance with the Mendon Orchestra. The maypole dancers listed this year include, [see listing above]. The dance instructors were June Bowen and Lorna Ladle. Piano accompanist, Mozelle Sorensen. The dresses, Blanche Yonk and Nan Earl. Committee in Charge: Sunday School Superintendency; Merlin H. Yonk, Fred Bowen, Lemuel Earl, Sr.

Items Of Historic Interest— Although the weather didn’t agree, May Day was held as usual. It rained most of the morning so the events were held indoors. Lelia Kidman was crowned Queen of May by her consort, Gene Hiibner. Her attendants were Julie Ann Peterson and Douglas Larsen; Claudia Gittens and Todd Olsen; Theresa Williams and Michael Buist. Flower girl was Tresa Quinlan and Crown Bearer was Douglas Leishman. Following the crowning of the queen, twenty-six little girls dressed in pink and green danced the maypole. This was followed by a program. In the afternoon there was a children’s dance followed by races and ball games. It stopped raining for awhile in the afternoon. In the evening there was a dance in which the Mendon Orchestra played.Lelia Kidman, 1965 May Queen (center).

Mendon, Large Crowd Attends Annual May Celebration— The Mendon May Day celebration proved very successful, despite the rain. The large crowd filled the school gymnasium and enjoyed watching the twenty-four girls dressed in striped green and pink dresses, the May Day colors, dance the maypole directed by Mozelle Sorensen, the accompanist, June Bowen and Lorna Ladle. The crowning of Queen Lelia Kidman was by consort Gene Hiibner, her attendants were Julie Ann Peterson, Douglas Larsen, Claudia Gittens, Todd Olsen, Theresa Williams, Michael Buist. Flower girl, Tresa Quinlan, crown bearer, Douglas Leishman. The May Day songs were directed by T. Kay Sorensen, with Mozelle Sorensen at the piano. Superintendent Merlin Yonk announced the program: Song, Kay Dawn Jeppesen and brother Michael Jeppesen, accompanied by their mother, Mrs. Don Jeppesen of Logan. Solos by Connie and Lynette Rose and their mother, Mrs. Linnell Rose of Logan, accompanied by Mozelle Sorensen. Mrs. Ruth Bankhead of Wellsville gave a comic reading. Mrs. Milton Johnson sang a solo, accompanist Beth Muir. The Olsen sisters, Cheryl, Shauna and Kathy sang two trios, accompanied by their mother, Mrs. Ken Olsen, all of Orem. Richard Buist of Logan gave the May Day talk. Renee Peterson sang, accompanied by Beth Muir. Mrs. Lloyd Balls sang, her accompanist, Mozelle Sorensen, then she and Mr. Balls entertained with duets and ukulele, guitar and harmonica music. Frank H. Baugh, Jr. with his Glee Men Chorus sang several selections accompanied at the piano by John Jausi, all of Logan. Remarks by Bishop Fred Sorensen. In the afternoon, the children’s dance followed by races and a big dance at night with the Mendon Orchestra in attendance ended the days festivities. Many out-of-town visitors and former residents of Mendon came for the celebration. May Dinner: Mr. and Mrs. Leland Kidman entertained at an attractively arranged dinner in honor of their daughter, Lelia who was reigning as queen of the May Day celebration, Saturday, with her consort Gene Hiibner and maids of honor and their escorts Julie Ann Peterson, Douglas Larsen, Claudia Gittens, Todd Olsen, Theresa Williams, Michael Buist, assistant superintendent Fred Bowen, Mr. and Mrs. William F. Kidman, John Rottweiler, Kathleene Kidman. A maypole with dancing girls formed a pretty centerpiece for the table.