Raspberry Festival’s New Senior Royalty Have Deep Roots in Hopkins

Dean Empanger and Mary Jo Mileski have been named the Hopkins Raspberry Festival senior royalty for 2012-2013.

The introductory speeches given at Tuesday evening’s Senior Royalty Coronation at the emphasized the pair’s long ties to Hopkins.

Empanger, the new senior king, was born and raised in Hopkins. He attended the old and has had a love of history, antiques and reading from his youth.

Many in the community know Empanger from his role as president of the and the booth he keeps at the .    

Newly crowned Senior Queen Mileski grew up in South Minneapolis and has lived in St. Louis Park for 59 years. Her husband Richard owned Hopkins Radiator and Speedometer.

Music and dance are two of Mileski’s passions. She plays the accordion and bass. She has danced with the Satin Dolls group in St. Louis Park for ten years, has competed in four State Fair dancing competitions and dances with the Hopkins Jazzberries.

Prior to the coronation, the outgoing 2011-2012 senior royalty—Senior Queen Trudy Reinitz and Senior King Jim Gall—both spoke of their experiences. The younger members of the court paid tribute to the memorable experiences they’d had together throughout the year and the feeling of family they now share.

Hopkins has two more coronations taking place this week. The Junior Royalty Coronation takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the , with a reception and dance afterward. The Royalty Coronation for young ladies between 17 and 25 takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the . The annual Royal Ball will take place immediately after.  

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