Harold Mellenthin, a member of the Lynd High School class of 1943, was honored with a corsage at the Lynd All-School Reunion on Saturday. More than 200 Lynd alumni gathered in Ghent to reminisce and socialize.

LYND — It’s been more than 40 years since the last class of high school seniors graduated from Lynd School. But the connection among Lynd alumni is still strong.

Around 210 alumni of Lynd Public School gathered over the weekend for an all-school reunion, said Sandy (Andersen) Buseing, who was part of the organizing committee.

“I think they all had a great time. It’s good seeing everyone from Lynd,” she said. “We have people that come from the east coast, Pennsylvania, Florida.”

The alumni who gathered for a social and meal at KB’s Ballroom in Ghent Saturday included members of Lynd graduating classes going all the way back to the 1940s.

Some of the oldest Lynd alumni at the reunion, including Harold Mellenthin, Perry Banks and Mary Ann Beasley (DeBoer), were honored with corsages, Buesing said. Mellenthin graduated in 1943, Banks in 1948, and Beasley in 1949.

Buesing said the all-school reunion, which is held once every three years, has become a tradition for many Lynd alumni.

“They started this back in 1986,” Buesing said. At first, organizers invited high school alumni, going back to the graduating class of 1925. As time went on, she said, “We added everyone that went to Lynd through 1979. That was the last year we had a high school.”

“Now, anyone who went to Lynd is more or less invited,” Buesing said. After 1980, Lynd kept going as a K-8 school.

Reunion organizers maintain a list of alumni, as well as mailing addresses so people can keep in touch, Buesing said. “It’s just brought them really close together,” she said.

The all-school reunion included a few different events. In the morning, alumni could tour the Lynd School building, and the historical site of the Kiel and Morgan Hotel in Lynd. The hotel was the first building regularly used as the Lyon County Courthouse, in the 1870s.

“I think quite a few people toured the school and went to the museum,” Buesing said. “The principal, Jason Swenson, commented that it was fun to listen to all their memories.”

In the afternoon, alumni gathered at KB’s Ballroom in Ghent, and enjoyed a meal and a program. “We always sing our school song, the Minnesota Rouser,” Buesing said.

Buesing, a 1960 Lynd alumna, said she’s been part of the reunion committee for many years. Now Deb Coudron (Thooft), a member of the class of 1974, is going to be stepping up to help lead reunion planning.

Buesing said it’s fun to see Lynd alumni come back for the all-school reunion.

“It’s a good time. They get to reminisce,” she said.