Text of Ziebach Co., SD History (1982) - pages 99 - 122
This file is the text of the book, "South Dakota's Ziebach County,
History of the Prairie", published in 1982 by the Ziebach County
Historical Society, Dupree, SD
Permission to publish this book in electronic form was given by Jackie Birkeland,
member of the Historical Committee. This book is copyright, 1982 by the Ziebach
County Historical Society, Dupree, SD.
Scanning and OCR by Terri Tosh <chipnter@lnd.com>, final editing by Joy Fisher,
<sdgenweb@yahoo.com>.
Chapter 8 SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS (Lodges and Clubs)
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ZIEBACH COUNTY
Isolated as it was and is in some respects, Ziebach County definitely developed along
social lines since its organization in 1911. Its inhabitants have shown a decided interest
in the establishment of churches, schools, lodges, and organized amusements.
FRATERNAL LODGES
Ziebach County began to organize lodges in 1911 in an attempt to bring about a
closer life within each community. The fraternal orders in the County were located in
Dupree, the largest town in the County.
The first two organizations in Ziebach County were the Maccabees, which was
organized on June 14, 1911, and the Modern Woodmen of America, which was
organized on January 25, 1912. Both of these organizations are now inactive.
In June, 1912, Masonic Lodge No. 171 was organized. The lodge has had a
continuous existence since that time and now has a membership of forty-two. The first
meetings of this organization were held in the Berglin Hall, which served as the lodge
rooms until 1928 when the lodge moved into a section of the American Legion Building.
In the early 1950's the former Bixby Store was moved in to Dupree and still serves as
the home for Masonic Lodge No. 171.
The Masonic Lodge No. 171 has honored several of their members with 50-year pins
and they are as follows: Watson Tidball, Frank Gladstone, Frank Davis, Art Farstad,
Chris Williams, John Leake, and Leo Starr.
In June, 1918, the auxiliary lodge to the Masonic Order, the Order of the Eastern
Star, Liberty Chapter No. 132, was chartered and had a membership of sixty. The order
used the rooms in the Berglin Hall until 1928 when they moved, along with the Masonic
Lodge, into the American Legion building.
Liberty Chapter No. 132 merged with the Eagle Butte chapter in 1969 currently
boasts a membership of seventy-two. Edith Olson is a 50-year member. There are five
twenty-five year members as well.
ODD FELLOW LODGE
Memento Lodge No. 231 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized in
Dupree on Februrary 18, 1914. The charter members of the organization were: Levi C.
Hurst, Hugh S. Walkup, Frank A. Haagen, James D. Stewart and Harve Hensley. Other
members who joined the Dupree lodge during the first year were: O. A. Nyhus, Archie G.
Hughes, A. W. Robertson, Thomas R. Nelson, George Kruckman, G. A. McGarraugh,
Lloyd C. Strommer, Carl L. Strommer, Wilbur H. Scott and John R. Retz.
At the time the lodge was organized in February there happened to be warm weather
which melted the snow and put a large amount of water in all of the draws. Levi C. Hurst
related that he had to ride a mule from his farm northeast of Dupree to get through some
of the places. Another old time member was W. T. Searson, who started out to the
meeting when the lodge received the charter, only to be forced to turn back because of
high water. Mr. Searson was travelling on foot from his home five miles north of Dupree
and could not cross some of the draws. Mr. Searson willed his house and lot in the town
of Dupree to the lodge upon his death. The lodge disposed of the property by selling it.
The first meetings of the lodge were held above the August Bakeberg pool hall. When
the new courthouse was built in 1930, the lodge purchased the old courthouse building
for $1200.00 and moved it to the present location and later remodeled it to fit the needs
of the lodge.
Arthur R. Hurst, a member of the Dupree lodge, became the youngest Grand Master
to serve the state of South Dakota and served from June 1941 through June 1943. He
was also the only Past-Grand Master to serve two years. This was caused when in the
early days of World War II, travel restrictions were such that it was considered unwise to
hold a Grand Lodge meeting. Mr. Hurst was a representative of the state of South
Dakota at the Sovereign Grand Lodge meetings held in Chicago, Illinois in 1941;
Indianapolis, Indiana in 1943 and Dallas, Texas in 1944.
[photo – Rebekah Lodge and Odd Fellow Lodge picnic in early 1930's at Orbeck's. Back
Row: 1. Art Hurst, 2. Frank Fuller, 3. William Jones, 4. Alvin Denton, 5. ?, 6. Lloyd Hurst,
7. ?, 8. ?, 9. Fred Nelson, 10. ?, 11. Levi Hurst, 12. George Gray, 13. Lon Merritt, 14.
Chris Solum, 15. ?, 16. Otto Stensland, 17. Ben Kinney. Front Row: 1. Nels Olson, 2.
Vernon Oliver, 3. Anson Callen, 4. John Bauer, 5. W. T. Searson, 6. Vernal Vance, 7.
Roy Lawrence, 8. ?, 9. Raymond Nelson, 10. ?, 11. Verdo Rinehart, 12. Mose Denton,
13. Gif Lafferty, 14. Bill Stevens, 15. George Teegarden]
[photo – Odd Fellow Lodge and Rebekah Ladge Picnic in early 1930's at Orbeck's. 1.
Mrs. Searson, 2. ?, 3. Mrs. Callen, 4. Beulah Denton Vance, 5. Gertrude Stensland, 6.
Mrs. Oliver, 7. Anna Denton, 8. Mrs. Ben Kinney, 9. Florence Vance Grage, 10. ?, 11.
Bernice Denton, 12. ?, 13. Esther Fuller Wince, 14. Leona Callen, 15. Mrs. Fuller, 16.
Della Fuller Hegre, 17. Mary Stephenson, 18. Neta Nelson, 19. Mrs. Anson Callen, 20.
Ada Merritt, 21. Mrs. Orbeck, 22. Amida Lawrence, 23 Bessie Stevens, 24. Verna
Brown]
The present membership of the lodge is 23. The officers are as follows: Noble Grand
Harry Stambach; Vice Grand -- LeRoy Wicks; Secretary -- Robert Ritter; Treasurer --
William Marple; Warden -- Kenny Hertel; Conductor -- Eugene Henderson; Chaplain
Willis Thomas; Right Supporter to the Noble Grand -- A. F. Godschalk; Left Supporter to
Noble Grand -- Pat Marple; Right Supporter to the Vice Grand -- Leonard Ritter; Left
Supporter to the Vice Grand -- Clinton Farlee; Inside Guardian -- J. T. Stout; Outside
Guardian -- Jim Frame.
MEMENTO REBEKAH LODGE #159 OF DUPREE, SOUTH DAKOTA
The lodge was instituted on January 25, 1915 with the original name of Memento
Branch Rebekah Lodge No. 159. The charter members were: Frank Haagen, Grace
Foreman, Charlotte Strommer, Andrew Strommer, and Flora Reynolds. The first officers
of the institution were: Frank Haagen, Noble Grand; Mrs. James D. Stewart, Vice Grand;
Grace Foreman, Secretary; Mrs. Frank Haagen, Treasurer; James D. Stewart, Charlotte
Strommer and Gertrude Nelson, Trustees.
We took the name of Memento Branch as we were an auxiliary of the Memento Odd
Fellows Lodge. The first lodge meetings, including the institutional meeting, were held in
the building owned by Archie Hughes. They continued to hold their meetings in this
location until in 1924 when they began holding their meetings in the rooms over the
Bakeberg Pool Hall, continuing their meetings in this location until the fall of 1931. Earlier
in 1931, the Odd Fellow Lodge, with the help of the Rebekahs, purchased the old
courthouse building, moved it onto lots on Main Street which they had purchased, and
remodeled into a nice Lodge Hall. In 1938 they added a kitchen, 14 ft. across, onto the
west side of the building.
Early activities: The first Rebekah District Meeting was held in Mobridge in1928, in
which Dupree Rebekahs took part. Their first delegate was Bessie Stevens. For years
the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of both Dupree and Faith held annual family picnics in
the Orbeck park near Red Elm.
Our ways of making money (and we needed lots of it in remodeling our hall, etc.) was
by raffling quilts, putting on carnivals, barn dances out at the Christensen farm south of
Dupree, putting on suppers, giving series of card parties, serving the Junior-Senior
banquets, and holding food sales.
In August 1931, the Rebekahs were put on the State Honor Roll. In June 1938, the
Degree Team had the honor of being asked to put on the Degree work at the Rebekah
Assembly Meeting held in Mitchell, and eighteen members attended the session that
year.
We have installed a water system in our kitchen, installed a rest room, carpeted our
meeting room, lowered the ceiling and put in new ceiling tile and paneled the walls,
making a much nicer looking lodge hall. The Odd Fellows did the work. Our next project
is to panel our kitchen and put down a new linoleum in it so that it will be a nicer place in
which to work.
Our present membership is 43. The present officers of the lodge are: Amida
Lawrence, Noble Grand; Shirley Menzel, Vice Grand; Janice Marple, Secretary; Lucille
Fairbanks, Treasurer; Alice Shannon, Chaplain; Inga Birkeland, Warden; Nellie Ross,
Conductor; Nola Seymour, Inside Guardian; Tina Farlee, Outside Guardian; Marian
Stambach, Right Supporter to the Noble Grand; Myrtle Olson, Left Supporter to the
Noble Grand; Irene Starr, Right Supporter to the Vice Grand; Lena Speker, Left
Supporter to the Vice Grand.
ROYAL NEIGHBORS OF AMERICA
Royal Neighbors of America, Pleasant Camp 9911 of Dupree was organized
September 17, 1925 largely through the efforts of Effie Leake and Mabel Clifton. The
Charter was signed by Laurella Willardsen, District Deputy and Mina Wood as State
Supervisor.
Charter members were Elfina Birkeland, Mildred Birkeland, Louis Bogue, Ella Bogue,
Nancy Brammer, Sylvia Broberg, Elsie Cassidy, Henry Clifton, Mabel Clifton, Beulah
Denton, Ida DuSell, Margaret DuSell, Emma Garrett, Bernice Griffith, Tresa Hahn, Effie
Hall, Edith Jamison, Effie Leake, George Leake, Cornelia Menzel, Margaret O'Donnell,
Fern Olmstead, Elsie Orbeck, Ludwig Orbeck, Melvin Osler, Winnie Osler, Luella Quirk,
Gertie Rinehart, Marion Shaffer, Ruth Solomonson, Gertrude Taylor, Lewis Taylor, Zella
Taylor, Lorna Vance, Barbara Wuennecke and Jennie Wuennecke.
The first officers of this Camp were: Oracle, Sylvia Broberg; Vice Oracle, Lorna
Vance; Past Oracle, Effie Leake; Recorder, Mabel Clifton; Chancellor, Cornelia Menzel.
Today we have a membership of 260 members living throughout the United States
but keeping their membership in Camp 9911. When this Camp was organized the
meetings were held in the Berglin Hall and later moved to the basement of the Legion
Hall. In 1949 the Camp moved to the I.O.O.F. Hall where they met for several years.
Meetings were held in the Masonic Hall for three or four years and now meet in the
homes.
We have donated to families in times of disaster, sickness, served lunch to relatives
after funerals, donated to the Grandstand Building fund, speaker system at the school. In
the early days card parties were held. Every fall we have a pot-luck turkey dinner and
party where everyone has a good time. In order to make money for projects we sell
various items.
EDWIN HODGDON POST #124
AMERICAN LEGION
In midsummer of 1919, many of the servicemen having returned to their homes in
and near Dupree, Ziebach County, the matter of forming an American Legion Post in
Dupree was talked over by a number of servicemen.
Of the men who were outstanding in getting the Post started, the man that did the
most pushing was August J. Bakeberg. Mr. Bakeberg was the first post commander and
this was made possible through the efforts of Martin Broberg, Harley Frink, Douglas
Brush, Roy Lawrence, Herman Hommedal, Severin Hegre, John Askin, Simeon Jeffries,
Harley Hagen, Harold Leake, William Ogard, Gustave Yusko, Chris Williams, Ward
Zimmerman, Lloyd Dunbar, John Francis, plus many others who assisted in organizing.
Following a custom of naming Legion Posts in South Dakota, the name of the first
serviceman from Ziebach County to give his life for his country was selected as the
name of the Dupree Post. That man was Edwin Flavius Hodgdon. The number assigned
by the State Department was 124. The full name being long, the Charter was issued on
December 20, 1919, as Edwin Hodgdon Post #124, American Legion, Department of
South Dakota. The following servicemen were charter members:
William T. Crowley, Hugh I. Batterbery, Herbert P. Davis, Ralph C. Walling, Clyde M.
Lafferty, Simeon J. Jeffries, Maurice W. Lange, August J. Bakeberg, William H. Cain,
Roy A. Walling, Francis M. Thomas, Frank H. Creamer, Harley H. Frink, Thomas W.
Sawyer, and Whitefield Denham.
[photo – American Legion Hall, Dupree, S. D.]
[photo – New Legion Building]
Little is known of the life of Edwin Flavius Hodgdon for whom the post was named.
He came to the county and was working for William Ewing, east of Dupree, in the fall of
1916 and registered with the Local Board in June 1917. In August 1917, he secured his
release from the Local Board and enlisted in the Navy.
He went from Dupree to San Francisco, California and enlisted as a fireman and was
assigned to the transport service. His vessel was fired on and Hodgdon was killed and
went down with his ship. At the time of his death he was in his 28th year.
In the first World War, Ziebach County sent 197 men to the service. Twelve were
killed or died of diseases. They were: Edwin Flavius Hodgdon, Charles Yousites, Oliver
Leslie Roberts, Henry Lloyd Strommer, Karl Schumann, Edward F. Cors, George
Diermier, Moses Clown, Jacob Christianson, George J. Pederson, Joseph Dupris, Carl
Hageman.
Roy Lawrence, Henry F. Burgee, and Milan Salisbury are among those honored as
50-year members.
In the second World War, Ziebach County sent 302 men and four women to the
service and eight men gave their lives. They were: William H. Birdhorse, Vaughan E.
Hedges, Stanley Thomas, Milford Vrooman, James E. Falon, Jack Hunter, Ralph Olson,
Herbert Heimer.
In January of 1945, Legion Post #124 purchased a large plaque that was placed in
the Ziebach County Courthouse. This plaque contains the names of Ziebach County
servicemen and women that served in World War II.
The Edwin Hodgdon Post #124 has received the annual Americanism citation many
times throughout the years, citing them for worthwhile and outstanding service to their
community.
The Legion building was first planned in the fall of 1920, and work was actually begun
in 1921. The building was forty feet wide by ninety feet long and sat on a full basement.
The $12,000 building was completed and by 1936 was completely free from debt.
The first floor included a dance floor, a stage, and a balcony. The basement had a
large dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, a large club room, and a furnace room. This
building served the community for all large gatherings. It was even used by the Dupree
High School as a basketball court, and accommodated 500 people. It faithfully served
area residents for over fifty years.
In the spring of 1977, the Legion sold their building to Ralph Reede. Then in the
spring of 1979 they purchased a building on north main street that had been built within
the past year , and had been partly damaged by fire. They repaired the building and
opened it for a Legion Club. The Legion and Auxiliary both hold their meetings in this
new building and it is operated six nights a week as a Legion Club with managers Bob
Menzel and Mike Burgee. Bingo is held there every Friday night by the Legion.
The following is a list of World War I veterans who filed discharges at the Ziebach
County Courthouse. * indicates died in service.
Abraham, Adolph
Amundson, Amend
Amundson, Peder
Anderson, Axel
Askin, John
Aydelotte, Robert
Bakeberg, August
Beguhl, Arthur
Bennett, Walter
Benoist, Albert
Bengston, Philip
Beyer, Paul
Blevins, Roe
Bloom, Frank
Bockman, Edward
Bockman, William
Borelson, Sam
Breezley, Fred
Brendt, Edward
Broberg, Erick
Brush, Ellsworth
Brush, Kenneth
Burke, Thomas
Budahl, John
Burgee, Henry
Burke, John
Cahill, Roy
Chasing Hawk, Allen
Christianson, Jacob*
Cleveland, Alfred
Clown, Moses*
Cornstalk, David
Cors, Edward*
Creamer, Frank
Crowley, William
Dahl, John
Davis, Herbert
Day, Floyd
Delker, Jacob
Diermier, George*
Docekal, Raymond
Dosch, Wendelin
Dunbar, Lloyd
Dupris, Joseph*
DuSell, Earl
Eaton, Levi
Eberhard, Arthur
Eberhard, Edgar
Echelbarger, Lawrence
Echelbarger, Leo
Elshire, Orville
Farstad, Arthur
Fischer, Michael
Fish, Albert
Flick, Jurgen
Francis, John
Frink, Harley
Fuller, Frank
Gall, Gabriel
Gammon, George
Garr, Harvey
Geesey, Lloyd
Graslie, Martin
Griepp, Rudolph
Hageman, Carl*
Hancock, Levi
Hanneman, August
Hass, Nicholas
Hawk Eagle, Thomas
Hegre, Severin
Hensley, William
Herren, Oscar
High Elk, Joe
Hoagland, Thomas
Hodgdon, Edwin* (for whom the Dupree Legion post was named)
Hoffman, Henry
Hogan, Frederick
Holmes, Calvin
Hulth, James
Jeffries, Simeon, Jr.
Jennerson, George
Jensen, Hans
Johnson, Guy
Kerkebak, Andrew
Kimmel, Andrew
Kimmel, Ralph
Konkler, Walter
Krikac, Thomas
Lawrence, Roy
Leake, Ernest
Leake, Harold
Leake, John
Lovelady, Thomas
Loza, John
Matter, Merlin
Mattkis, Frank
McNeely, Ross
Meier, Henry
Mern, William
Minnig, Orville
Mitchell, Warren
Murrell, George
Neigel, Jack
Nelson, Arthur
Nelson, Henry
Nelson, William
Olson, Henry
Orvedahl, Lloyd
Parker, Elmer
Pesicka, Fred
Peters, Joseph
Peters, Rudolph
Peterson, Frank
Peterson, Leland
Pitsor, Harold
Pop, Frank
Raab, Ernest
Raymond, Elliott
Red Buffalo, John
Red Horse, Charlie
Roberts, Oliver*
Robertson, Glenn
Ronning, Sigrud
Rose, Alfred
Rosenstock, Frank
Runs After, George
Salisbury, Milan
Sargent, George
Sawyer, Thomas
Schlax, Theodore
Schmit, Alixus
Schumann, Karl*
Sever, Glen
Sinkey, Leo
Shockley, James
Shoener, Dan
Shoots Near, Jacob
Shope, Edward
Slow, Thomas
Solbert, Oscar
Stavick, James
Strommer, Elmer
Strommer, Henry*
Sundsrud, Ole
Thomas, Francis
Thompson, Clinton
Till, George
Valle, Melvin
Wagner, George
Wall, Bertie
Walling, Ralph
Wangler, Ferdinand
White Feather, James
Whitman, Glen
Wies, John
Williams, Arthur
Williams, William
Yeshko, Guslov
Yousites, Charles*
Zimmerman, Ward
[photo of plaque – Roll of boys who were in the service in World War II]
RESIDENTS OF ZIEBACH COUNTY WHO SERVED
IN THE ARMED FORCES
This list was compiled from the list of discharges filed at the Court House and from the
board on the first floor of the Court House. Some names were added because someone
knew others had served in the Armed Forces.
Abdalla, Jess
Ackerman, Oscar
Adams, Cecil
Adams, Melville
Albers, Cecil
Albers, Orville
Alden, Leonard
Alderson, Glenn
Alwin, Lambert
Anderson, Arvil
Anderson, Bonnie
Anderson, Cal Ira
Anderson, Clifford
Anderson, Leo
Anderson, Roy
Anderson, Terry
Annis, David
Askin, John
Bachman, Albert
Bad Warrior, Dewey
Bad Warrior, Gary
Bakeberg, Alan
Bakeberg, John
Bakeberg, Thomas
Baker, Reese
Bagola, Chapman
Bald Eagle, Enoch
Bald Eagle, Wilbur
Bear Stops, Peter
Becker, Lyle
Becker, Robert
Beckman, Albert
Bednar, Robert
Beer, Adolph
Beer, Freddie
Bell, John
Bell, Robert
Bell, Theodore
Bennett, Maclyn
Benoist, Donovin
Benoist, Narcisse
Berndt, Edgar
Berndt, Milton
Bertsch, Calvin
Beyer, Leon
Bieber, Jack
Bigler, Richard
Bird Horse, William *
Birkeland, Gary
Birkeland, Russell C.
Black Bear, Paul
Black Bull, Arthur
Black Bull, Luke
Blue Arm, Arte *
Blue Hair, Robert
Bochman, Harold
Bochman, Donald
Boehrs, Clarence
Boers, Louis
Boldt, John
Bowman, John
Brammer, Gordon
Brammer, Hillis
Brammer, Hugh
Brende, Bernard
Bridwell, Arthur
Bridwell, Frenchie (Francis)
Bringman, Len
Bringman, Melvin
Briscoe, Jack
Briscoe, Henry
Brown, Frank
Brown, Freddie
Brown, James
Brown, Leo
Brown Dog, Eva
Brown Wolf, Oliver
Brown Wolf, Orin
Brown Wolf, Rodney
Budahl, Chester
Buffalo, Dennis
Buffalo, Theo
Bull Bear, Raymond
Burgee, Danny
Burgee, Robert
Burgee, Roland
Burke, Ernest
Burnett, Raymond
Butler, Bryce
Butler, James
Callen, Edgar
Callen, Joseph
Callen, Leonard
Callen, Marion
Campbell, Clyde
Capp, Donno
Capp, Earl
Capp, Harry
Capp, William
Carter, Edsel
Carter, Wayland
Charging Eagle, Steve
Circle Eagle, Bevin
Clown, Arnold
Clown, Blaine
Clown, Delmar
Clown, Kenneth
Clown, Raymond
Clown, Richard D.
Clown, Roland
Clown, True
Coats, Richard
Coleman, Donald
Coleman, Thomas
Collins, Frank, Jr.
Condon, Bud
Condon, Cyrus
Condon, Edward,
Condon, George
Condon, Reginald
Condon, Silas
Cook, Ames
Cook, Dennis
Cook, Milton,
Cook, Wilson
Cooper, Arthur
Counting, Kenneth
Cowan, Roscoe, Jr.
Creamer, Frank
Crom, Frank
Crow, Patrick
Crowley, Eugene
Curley, Cecil
Curley, Kenneth
Curley, Lawrence
Daczewitz, Francis
Daczewitz, Joel
Dahl, Arlin
Dahl, Eugene
Dahl, Roy
Dahl, Selmer
Day, Alien
Day, Delbert
Davis, Frederick
DeJong, Gerrit
DeJong, John*
DeJong, Lue
Delker, Verna
Dempsey, Eugene
Dempsey, Lee, Jr.
Denton, James
Denton, Robert
DeWaard, Jake
Diermier, James
Diermier, Ralph
Dillman, Mike
Docekal, Ernest
Dosch, Albinus
Dosch, Carman
Dosch, Courtney
Dosch, Victor
Dochnal, Joseph
Douglas, Winston
Drageset, Adolph
Drageset, Jens
Dries, John
Dries, William
Dupris, Aldred
Dupris, Chauncey
Dupris, Jerald
Dupris, Percy
Dupris, Maynard
Dupris, Millard
Ducheneaux, Burton
Dunbar, Jeanne
Dunbar, William
Dwyer, Joseph
Eagle Chasing, Narcisse
Eagle Chasing, Pat
Eagle Chasing, Roland
Eagle Staff, Esau
Eagle Staff, Sam
Eberhard, Alien
Eberhard, Wayne
Eaton, Wesley
Edwards, Gaylord
Edwards, Leonard
Edwards, Lloyd
Edwards, Wayne
Eddy, John
Eliason, Harvey
Eliason, Myron
Elk Eagle, Ben
Elk Nation, Levi
Elk Thunder, John
Ellwanger, Earl
Ellsworth, Joyce
Ernst, Donald*
Ernst, Floyd
Ernst, Herbert
Ernst, Robert
Eulberg, Albion
Eulberg, James
Eulberg, Rollin
Fairbanks, Harry L.
Fairbanks, Larry
Falch, Dwayne
Falon, James*
Farlee, Clinton
Farlee, Frederick*
Ferguson, Jemyra
Fields, Bernie
Fish, Dick
Fish, Frank
Fish, Hank
Fisherman, John
Fischer, Wendelin
Flaig, Harold
Fletcher, Lloyd
Flick, Arthur
Fluharty, James
Flying By, Moses
Ford, James
Frame, Gary
Frame, Gerald,
Frame, Jimmy
Frame, Maurice
Frame, Thomas
Frame, Wallace
Frankfurth, Barbara
Frankfurth, Marvin
Frankfurth, Theodore
Frankfurth, Walter
Frederickson, DeWayne
Frederickson, Harvey
Frederickson, Jack
Frederickson, Pete
Frederickson, Willis
Freeman, Donald
Freeman, Jack
Freeman, Jeffrey
French, Lucille
Fuller, William
Gage, George
Gage, Leo
Gage, Rex
Ganje, Anton, Jr.
Ganje, Anton
Ganje, Ben
Ganje, Clarence
Ganje, Frank
Ganje, Joseph
Garfield, Dwight
Garnett, Floyd
Garter, Moses
Garter, Samuel
Gebhart, Arthur
Gebhart, Carl
Gebhart, Carol
Gebhart, John
Gebhart, Robert
Gladstone, Clay
Gladstone, Dale
Gladstone, Frank (Spanish American)
Gladstone, Kyle
Gladstone, Lyn
Gladstone, Scottie
Gladstone, Wayne
Gottschalk, Clarence
Graslie, Louis
Graslie, Orville
Gray, Harvey
Gray, James, Jr.
Griffith, Thomas
Grondahl, Clifford
Grooms, Elmer
Gross, Edwin
Gross, Harold
Gross, Herbert
Hahne, Daryl
Hahne, Larry
Hahne, Leonard
Hahne, Lyle
Hahne, Randy
Hale, Larry
Hale, Owen
Hale, Leon
Hale, Michael
Hale, Robert
Halfred, Franklin
Halfred, Terry
Hancock, Ralph
Harris, Clint
Harris, Vern*
Harrison, Cecil
Hartinger, Bert
Heckel, Edward
Heckel, Leo
Hegre, Daryl
Hegre, Roger
Heimer, Herbert*
Heimer, Virgil
Henderson, Harley
Herren, Alfred
Herrman, Dennis
Hersey, Dick
Hertel, Norman
Herther, Herbert
Higgins, Dean
High Elk, Arthur
High Elk, Floyd
High Elk, Isaac
High Elk, Percy
High Elk, Theodore
High Elk, Wesley
Hedges, Dale
Hedges, Donald
Hedges, Earl
Hedges, Vaughn*
Hoff, LeRoy
Holloway, Glen
Hollow Horn, E. R.
Holmes, Archie
Holmes, Bernard
Holty, Alfred
Hommedal, Herman
Hopkins, Keeler
Hopkins, Kenneth
Horn, Lawrence
Horton, Marvin
Horton, Rayford
Hortenga, Onei
Howard, Verne
Huckins, Robert
Hump, Darrel
Hunt, Gene
Hunter, Dick
Hunter, Jack*
Hunter, Shirley
Hurst, Glynn
Hurst, Raydon
In Amongst, Marvin
In The Woods, Byron
In The Woods, Joseph
Iron Bird, Harry
Iron Hawk, Abraham
Iron Hawk, Claude
Iron Hawk, Haskell
Iron Hawk, Levi
Iron Hawk, Otto
Iron Hawk, Wilson
Iron Lightning, Grant
James, Robert
Jeffries, Calvin
Jeffries, Harry
Jeffries, Howard
Jeffries, Robert
Jeffries, Roy
Jeffries, Vincent
Jensen, Derl
Jensen, Edwin
Jensen, Rodger
Jewett, Gwyn
Jewett, Hal
Jochim, Tony
Johnson, Anthony
Johnson, Dannis
Johnson, Dean
Johnson, Dennis
Johnson, Elmer
Johnson, Ernest
Johnson, Harold
Jones, Leland
Jordahl, Norman
Kapp, Arthur
Keckler, Darrell
Keckler, Fred
Keckler, Ray
Keckler, Ronald
Keith, Sidney
Keller, Anton
Keller, Leo
King, George
Klien, William
Knife, George
Knife, Theodore
Knight, Doug
Knight, Earl
Knight, Jess
Knight, Monte
Knodel, Darrel
Knodel, Donald
Knodel, Earl
Knodel, Edward
Knodel, Erving
Knodel, Floyd
Knodel, Herman
Knodel, Norbert
Knodel, Ray
Knodel, Reuben
Knodel, Walter
Koch, Lloyd
Kost, Anton
Kraft, Bob
Kraft, Roy
Krause, Rodger
Krikac, Doris
Krikac, William
LaClaire, Vincent
Lafferty, George
Lafferty, Jerald
Lafferty, Robert
Lannen, Anna
Lannen, Francis
Lannen, Hugh
Lannen, Kenneth
Lannen, Peter
Lannen, Thomas
Lannen, Wayne
Lang, Floyd
Lang, Wilford
Leach, Robert
LaPlante, Charles
LaPlante, Leo
LaPlante, Wilbur
Larson, Lester
Lawrence, Donald
Lawrence, Ronald
Leake, Clyde
Lemke, John D.
Ley, Lloyd
Libolt, Jack
Libolt, Willis
Lightfield, Ernie
Lightfield, Ernie, Jr.
Lightfield, James
Lightfield, John
Lightfield, Vernon
Lindskov, Philip
Lindskov, Tom
Linn, Floyd
Linn, Raymond
Little Crow, James
Little Hawk, Whitley
Little Wounded, Nathan
Lodge Skin, Raymond *
Long, Isaac
Longbrake, Delbert
Longbrake, Ronald
Longbrake, William
Lopez, Albert
Lutz, Arnold
Lutz, Billy
Mackey, Clifford
Madison, Marles
Main, Earl
Mandan, Bert
Mandan, Cora
Mandan, Edna
Marple, Frank
Marple, Patrick
Marple, Ralph
Marple, Robert
Marple, William
Marshall, Gilbert
Martin, Harvey
Martin, John
Marx, James
Marx, Jerry
Mathieson, Francis
Maupin, Donald*
Maupin, John
Maynard, James
Maynard, Lawrence
Maynard, Ralph
Maynard, Richard*
McCane, Genevieve
McDaniel, Donald
McDaniel, Gailen
McDaniel, James
McDaniel, Leo
McDaniel, William
McKillip, Daniel
McLellan, Archie
McLellan, Lyle
McLellan, Owen
McLellan, Paul
McLellan, Walter
Menzel, Fred
Menzel, Lewis
Menzel, Robert
Miller, Delbert
Miller, Donald
Miller, Donald D.
Miller, Wilbur
Miller, William
Mittleider, Michael
Moerke, Ida
Monnens, Edward
Morris, Marvin
Moxness, Thomas
Mraz, Chester
Mraz, Darrell
Mraz, Edwin
Mraz, Herman
Mraz, Lowell
Mraz, Paul
Mraz, Paul, Jr.
Mraz, Robert
Nelson, C. M.
Nelson, Ione
Nelson, Niels
Nesheim, David
Nesheim, Donald
New Black Bear, Cyril
Newherter, Sanford
Nordvold, Sydney
Nygaard, Arnold
Oakie, Joseph C.
Oakie, Stewart
Ohnemous, Robert
O'Leary, Robert
Oliver, Lindsay
Oliver, Vernon
Olmstead, Dacre
Olmstead, Wesley
Olsen, Einar
Olsen, Norris
Olsen, Ralph*
Olson, Ole
One Skunk, Sampson
Ostby, Donald
Osler, Clifford
Oster, John
Oster, Wayne
Owl King, Hazel
Owl King, Rodger
Parker, Darrell
Parker, Frank
Parker, Gladys
Pesicka, Alvin
Pesicka, Lawrence
Pesicka, Lee
Pesicka, Philo
Pesicka, Ralph
Pesicka, Ralph, Jr.
Pesicka, Richard
Pesicka, Wayne
Petersen, Elmer
Petersen, Ernest
Petersen, George
Petersen, William
Pew, Wayne
Pfau, Edward, Jr.
Pidcock, Archie
Pitsor, Dick
Pitsor, Ralph
Pogany, Ernest
Pogany, Zolton
Pop, Edward
Pop, John
Pretty Weasel, Madrick
Pritzkau, Carl
Pritzkau, Henry
Pugh, Norman
Radke, Alien
Red Bird, Abel
Red Bird, Charles
Red Bird, Douglas
Red Bird, Marvin
Red Bird, Maurice
Red Bird, Paul
Red Bull, Dan
Red Bull, Edward
Red Bull, Emanuel
Red Bull, Gillean
Red Bull, Melvin
Red Bull, Samuel
Reddin, William
Red Horse, Leonard
Red Legs, Gabriel
Reede, Glenn
Reede, Ralph
Reich, Robert
Reynolds, Dick
Reynolds, Robert
Richardson; Melvin
Rickels, David*
Rickels, James M.
Riede, Robert
Riede, William
Ringsby, Victor
Ritter, Leonard
Ritter, Robert
Roach, Orlando*
Robb, Robert
Robbs, Henry
Robertson, Warren
Rogers, Niel
Rosander, Judge
Rosenau, Herman
Rose, Earl
Rose, Robert
Ross, Robert
Ross, Raymond
Ross, Ryan
Runs After, Delmar
Russell, Calvin
Russell, Marvin
Salisbury, Merrill
Salisbury, William
Samuelson, Carl*
Schad, Charles
Schad, Donald L.
Schad, Floyd
Schad, Lester
Schad, Sylvester
Schatz, Andrew
Schmautz, Duane
Schmidt, Maynard
Schrempp, Arthur
Schuchhardt, Alvin
Schuchhardt, Doris
Schuchhardt, Thomas
Serr, Gus
Sever, David
Sever, John
Sever, Kenneth
Sever, Mile
Seymour, Melvin
Shaner, Joseph E.
Shannon, Philip
Shelton, Vernon
Shoots Off, Emmett
Shuck, Melvin
Shunk, Harold
Silk, Frank
Silk, Herman
Simon, Kenneth
Slides Off, Melford
Slides Off, Owen
Smith, Harold
Sowers, Richard
Speker, Gary
Speker, Milton
Spurling, William
Stadel, Herbert
Stambach, Raymond
Stapert, Dale
Stapert, Lloyd
Starr, Brock
Starr, Francis (Lee)
Steen, Albert, Jr.
Steen, Charles
Stensaas, Elmer
Stevens, Russel
Stradinger, Oscar
Stradinger, Rudolph
Straighthead, Darrel
Straighthead, Rosalie
Stromer, Buddy
Swan, Caurmel
Swan, Kermit
Swan, Manuel
Swimmer, Wayne
Takes the Gun, Edward
Talks, Lawrence
Taylor, Paul
Taylor, Tyrone
Teller, Stanley
Thomas, Arlo*
Thomas, Clayton
Thomas, Clinton
Thomas, Dennis
Thomas, Duane
Thomas, Stanley*
Thomas, Terry
Tibke, James
Tichi, John
Till, Betty
Till, Gerald
Till, Joe
Tracy, Thomas T.
Traversie, Maynard
Tupy, Stefan
Two Crow, Cleveland
Ulrich, Daniel
Uses Many, James
Uses The Knife, Etta
Uses The Knife, Thomas
Vance, Dale
Vance, Dean
Vance, Omar
Vance, Wayne
Vanderpol, Alfred
Vanderpol, Lyle
Vandervier, Corliss
Vandervier, George
VanSickle, George
Veit, Harold, Jr.
Volk, Martin
Vrooman, Danny D.
Vrooman, Earl
Vrooman, Frank
Vrooman, Gall
Vrooman, Gordon
Vrooman, Milford*
Vrooman, Vernon
Walenta, Robert
Wall, Virgil
Walters, Jack
Ward, Mark
Wartenweiler, Keith
Warner, LeRoy
Weaver, Lynn
Weaver, Wayne
White Weasel, Oscar
Wenzel, Herbert
Wenzel, Raymond
West, Kenneth
White Feather, Burley
White Feather, Evan
White Magpie, Elijah
White Wolf, Moses
Wicks, Leslie
Wicks, Till
Widdow, Edward
Widow, Ervin
Williams, Donald
Williams, Maurice
Williams, Ramon
Wince, Gordon
Wince, Sherman
Wilson, Ronnie
Witte, Charles
Witte, Edward
Witte, Frank
Witte, Frederick C.
Witte, Harold * I
Witte, Rex A.
Witte, Willard T.
Wolff, Walter
Woodcock, James
Woodcock, Louis
Woodward, Beverly
Wuennecke, Fred A.
Yellow Cloud, Melvin T.
Yellow Elk, Carlos
Young, Harold
Young, Roger
Young, Warren
Zacher, Eugene
Zacher, George
Zacher, James
Zacher, Leonard G.
Zacher, Ludwig
Zacher, Ronald
Zahrowski, Frank
Zahrowski, Leo
Zephier, Nelson
Zimmerman, James
Zimmerman, Ted
Zorc, William
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
The American Legion Auxiliary was organized April 23, 1921. Charter members were
Mrs. August Bakeberg, Mrs. Hattie Brush, Mrs. Kenneth Brush, Mrs. Gladys Hommedal,
Mrs. William Ogard, Mrs. Frank H. Creamer, Mrs. Sim Jeffries, Mrs. Effie Leake, Mrs.
George Gammon (Marie), Mrs. Fred Frink, Mrs. Avie Lange and Mrs. Lillian Lafferty.
The first officers of this organization were: President, Hattie Brush; Vice President,
Josephine Bakeberg; Secretary, Gladys Hommedal; Treasurer, Katherine Creamer. The
Executive Committee was Mrs. Sim Jeffries, Mrs. Kenneth Brush, Mrs. Effie Leake, and
Mrs. Marie Gammon. The first meetings were held in the homes of the members.
Early activities included: patriotic parties with the American Legion, minstrel shows
and carnivals. During 4th of July celebrations they served dinners, operated lunch
stands, working in various ways to make money to build a Community Hall. Their
responsibility was to buy furnishings for the basement dining room and kitchen when
completed. The first project they attempted was establishing a public rest room in rooms
in the back part of the store building now operated as Dupree Jack & Jill. Later on, as
the community building began to take shape, they established a public rest room in that
building.
[photo – The American Legion Auxiliary sponsored blood drive finds Ann Coleman a
willing donor]
[photo – Jody Wall reporting on her adventures as a Girl's State delegate]
Each year the organization has attempted to do something under "Community
Service". For several years they planted trees and shrubbery in the Courthouse yard and
around the front of their own building on main street. One year they purchased tulip
bulbs, gave some of them to the various church groups and planted some of them in the
Courthouse yard. One year they put up a public drinking fountain in front of the old Light
and Power Plant, then operated by the Town of Dupree. Another year they bought two
lawn vases and put them along each side of the walk leading to the front door of the
courthouse. They also bought a picnic table and had several outdoor fireplaces erected
in the public park. Another year they planted a Memorial Poppy Garden on the grounds
around the Community Hall. They, at another time, bought and erected road signs
reading "Protect Dupree Children" on the street leading into town.
After working hard in various ways to make money, the American Legion sponsored
the building project, the Community Hall, which was erected by piece-meal. The
basement was first built with a rock wall, which stood until a few years ago when the wall
was condemned, and had to be torn out and replaced with a new wall. After the
basement was finished, they built a floor over that, built a platform on which the
orchestra played for the dances they gave in this open-air-pavilion. They added on a
porch without a roof, and this was where the Auxiliary prepared and served the shoe-box
lunches to the dance crowds. Before time for the dance, the women of the Auxiliary
would meet and pack the lunches in shoe boxes or what have you, and be ready to
serve out on the porch in good weather and bad. Without a roof over them, sometimes it
was bad. Later on, of course, the upper part of the building was built, and a roof built
over the porch, the building finished inside, as the funds grew. Later they modernized
the basement, putting in water and sewer.
A community project which was dreamed of early in the life of the Auxiliary and each
year $10.00 was put aside toward a town clock to be erected on the front of the bank
building. Another of the early projects was furnishing a room at the hospital in Sanator.
The Past President's Parley was organized in 1930 and is still active. The Auxiliary
sponsored the celebration of the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac
Sawyer, the 35th wedding anniversary of the Creamers, and the Auxiliary served at the
Golden Wedding Anniversary of the Fred Frinks.
Auxiliary members who have been honored as 50-year members are Amida
Lawrence, Freda Salisbury and Hazel Davis.
EXTENSION WORK IN ZIEBACH COUNTY
Ziebach County was organized for extension work in the summer of 1925 and
Charles L. Graves was hired as County Agent on December 1, 1925.
This is a county-wide organization of farmers who elect their Board of Directors each
year. This board chooses its own officers, employs a County Agent and adopts the
program of extension work for the county.
During the first years, the Department of Interior furnished one-third of the funds to
maintain the County Agent so one-third of his time was devoted to Indian work.
In 1925, the TB testing was started on the cattle of Ziebach County and has been
continued through the years. Many 4-H Corn Clubs were started the first year and
Hannah High Hawk was fourth place winner on her corn in the 4-H Club class at the
Northern Corn Show in Mobridge and also won a free trip to the International Livestock
Show in Chicago. Nola Brummet and Dwight Hitsman also won trips to the show in
Chicago.
In 1927, through the cooperation of the County Commissioners and the County
Agent, a county seed loan of $20,000 was obtained. Also through the efforts of the
County Agent, Amber Wheat was introduced into the county.
[photo – Homemaker Plant A Tree Day, Dupree, SD 1981. Nola Seymour, Marie
Edwards, Ruth Edwards, Belle Jensen, Shirley Menzel and grandson C. J., Amida
Lawrence]
Fred Rost, another 4-H member, received a trip to the Chicago Show by virtue of the
corn exhibited at the Isabel Corn Show and his work as a 4-H'er. At the fifth annual
Northern Crop Show at Mobridge, Ziebach County won second place with 6 counties
competing. Frank Eichelman won sweepstakes of the show with a ten ear sample of Alta
corn.
An Indian Industrial Displays was held at Cherry Creek and Thunder Butte Stations
this year. Fourteen different chapters of the Indian Crop Improvement Associations put
up excellent displays. Also 30 Indian 4-H'ers were furnished with seed for one acre of
corn and if they raised 20 bushels on this plot, they were rewarded with a sow pig.
Seventeen were given out.
Miss Connie Abelt was awarded the trip to the National 4-H Club Congress and
Chicago Show but as she was underage, Miss Agnes Drageset was the winner.
In 1928, Frank Eichelman displayed Alta Corn at the Mobridge Show and won grand
sweepstakes over all varieties and also won 13th place at the Chicago Show.
Charles L. Graves resigned on September 19 and C. J. Jack was appointed to fill his
place.
In 1929, a 4-H Crops Judging Team was developed among corn club members and
at the State Fair, Vernon Oliver, a member of the team, placed second high individual in
the state.
Many new varieties of wheat, corn and alfalfa were tried this year but due to drought,
no result could be obtained. The first Corn Show held in Ziebach County was held in
Dupree in January 1929. One hundred and fifty-five entries were made and over 350
people took in the show. The annual Farm Picnic was held along the Moreau River north
of Dupree. Over 1,000 people attended -- the largest crowd ever recorded.
In 1930, thirteen farmers started shelterbelts around their farms and 25 growers of
alfalfa had their fields inspected. Mr. Fred Hunter experimented with Spartan barley.
Floyd Collins became County Agent on July 20, 1930. The County appropriation was
refused for 1932, so in April 1932, the county was without a County Agent.
Thirty-four Indian Farm Chapter members planted 2,659 pounds of alfalfa in the
spring of 1932. Due to the shortage of rough feed for stock, the Dupree Commercial
Club advanced special funds to a committee and 20 cars of hay were secured. The hay
was sold to stockmen without any profit. The County Agent assisted in making out feed
and seed loans this spring. In Ziebach County, $92,847.00 was loaned.
Thirteen farm chapters with 114 Indian farmers as members were reorganized that
spring. Gardens were the main projects that year. Relief aid was given to 377 families
due to the efforts of the County Agent. The Dupree Commercial Club appointed a relief
committee and $4,604.47 of groceries, fuel, clothing and feed was distributed; plus 3
cars of hay, 5 cars of wheat, and 1 car of flour. Mr. Floyd Collins was the Emergency
Agricultural Assistant and the County Drought Relief Director from December 1, 1933 to
July 15, 1934, and then Ralph E. Hansen took over.
In 1935 the county extension organization in Ziebach County underwent a change.
The County Commissioners -- Oscar Lund, F. E. Bierman, and W. C. Miller -- at their
July meeting, appointed the Ziebach County Extension Board, a newly created board as
a result of legislation passed during the last regular session. They were: W. G.
Bockman, Amida Lawrence, F. E. Bierman, Bert Bailey and Lloyd Dunbar. In December
1934 the Ziebach County Drought Committee was organized. Hay was shipped in and
seed ordered from other parts of the country.
In 1935, Florence DeWaard and Anna DeWaard, demonstration team, and Jean
Hunter, winner of the county style revue, won a trip to the State Fair. Jean Hunter took
10th place at the State Fair in the healthiest girl in the state contest.
Home Demonstration clubs sponsored a quartette contest and the winning quartette,
Ree Barren, Vernon Oliver, Stewart Canfield and Howard Canfield, participated in the
State contest.
Ivan V. Fluharty took over the job as County Agent on September 15, 1936.
On September 6, 1937, an Agricultural exhibit was held in Dupree. One of the
outstanding exhibits was that of Carl Anderson who exhibited 37 different articles raised
on his farm. On July 8, 1937, stockmen of eastern Meade County, Dewey County,
Armstrong County, and Ziebach County organized an Independent Livestock Growers
Association with headquarters in Dupree. In 1938 Armstrong County was annexed to
Ziebach County for the Farm Program, by the directors of this program. In 1938, the
Home Demonstration Clubs reorganized and became a part of the state organization.
Agricultural exhibits were again shown during the Labor Day celebration.
A joint Achievement Day has been held with Home Demonstration clubs and 4-H
clubs with the business men sponsoring same. In 1939 a picnic lunch at noon for 150
people was held.
Ivan Fluharty was transferred June 1, 1940, and Conrad Simonson was appointed to
his place.
Because of local demand for pheasants in the county, 600 pheasants were planted in
Ziebach County in March 1941, with the assistance of local ranchers and the County
Agent.
The program for making cotton mattresses in Ziebach County was started in
December 1940. Eight mattress centers were organized in the county and the County
Agent gave a demonstration on how to make same. One hundred and fifty families
enrolled in the project and 225 mattresses and 138 comforters were made.
The Ziebach County War Board was organized in 1942. Help was given farmers in
learning to produce more on their land. Farm Transportation Committee was appointed.
People were urged to grow gardens. Three hundred dollars was raised for the USO
Fund by gathering scrap iron and auctioning off farm produce.
The Ziebach County Crop Improvement Association was organized in March 1944,
and it consisted of 16 members. The first officers were: William Marple, President: Floyd
Parker, Vice-President; and Conrad Simonson, Secretary.
In 1944, 15 4-H members and two leaders attended Camp Box Elder in the Black
Hills. Mrs. Alvin Denton, Dupree, supervised the girls and Mr. Gregory Zacher, Eagle
Butte, supervised the boys.
No records were available from 1945 to 1950 until Donald E. Becker became
assistant in Meade County and County Agent in Ziebach County in May, 1950. His office
was in Faith, South Dakota and he immediately began revival of the Crop Improvement
Association, 4-H clubs and other extension groups. The newly appointed extension
board consisted of Albert Steen, Floyd Parker, Amida Lawrence, Elmer Brammer, and
Selmer Anderson. The newly elected Crop Improvement Association officers were Fred
Hunter, Charles Hersey, and John Francis. They had been inactive for about a five year
period. They reorganized with 25 members.
In 1951 Don Becker resigned as Ziebach County Agent and Joe Revere, Jr., took
over the duties of said office on the 1st of July. Joe Revere continued as County Agent
until August 1955, carrying out the extension program of education on subjects relating
to agri-culture. In August, 1955, John E. Powell resigned from the Soil Conservation
Service to become County Extension Agent of Ziebach County. He remained until 1961.
County Agents that we have had in Ziebach County since then have been: Arnold
Reickman from 1961 to 1966; Wally Koers from 1967 to 1968; Neil Vollmer from 1968 to
1973; Ron Schrempp from 1974 to 1978; Carroll Gerberding from 1978 to 1981 and the
present County Agent is Calvin Chapman who came in 1981. Each County Agent has
worked in the various programs of the County, some with more emphasis on special
programs, but all have served the county well.
Some of the Home Agents have been Maureen Patterson, 1951 to 1953; Wenonah
Hutchens from 1956 to 1959; Ida Marie Norton from.1972 to 1979; Otha Joens, 1979 to
1980; and Mollie Backlund from 1980 to the present time.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
HOMEMAKERS CLUBS
1981-1982 ACTIVITIES
In celebrating National Homemaker Week last May, a group got together and planted
trees at the Dupree Manor. Posters were displayed around Dupree and articles
appeared in the local newspaper to inform the public of the Homemakers activities.
In the past year, two Ziebach County club members attended national trips. County
Council President Amida Lawrence attended the NEHC Convention in Durham, New
Hampshire. Hertha Schuchhardt traveled with the "Know America" tour group last May.
Also June McLellan took part in the State Safety Project Leaders program in Pierre.
In the area of health and safety, some of the clubs invited the local Cancer Society
representative to club meetings to show films and lead discussions. One of the clubs has
taken an active part in the Vial of Life program and were on hand at the Fall Northwest
Extension Expo. A local banker was invited to club meetings to explain different types of
health and life insurance policies.
Last fall the Ziebach County Homemakers sponsored a very successful Quilt Fair.
The program included a wide display of quilts from local quilters. The program also
included a demonstration on setting a quilt up on a frame.
The annual Christmas Fair welcomed in the holidays with special music by a local
group. There was a wide variety of Christmas crafts on display. In keeping with the
Extension Nutrition thrust of Food Our #1 Resource, the program concluded with a salad
luncheon. Craft patterns and salad recipes were collected and printed in a holiday
booklet.
Despite this years unpredictable weather and postponements and rescheduling, most
of the clubs have been able to take in this years programs in the areas of nutrition and
clothing consumerism.
25 YEAR MEMBERS 1953
Cora Anderson
Edna Anderson*
Hazel Anderson*
Amelia Beguhl*
Nancy Brammer*
Myrtle Brummet*
Hazel Davis
Edith Horton*
Ruth Hunter*
Lelia Knipfer
Amida Lawrence
Lilly Lightfield (no pin)
Selma McLellan*
Neta Nelson
Elsie Orbeck*
Maude Parker
Susie Parker
Frances Reich
Nellie Ross
Gertrude Searson*
Katherine Serr*
Mabel Stapert*
Bessie Stevens*
Myrtle Vrooman
Clarice Wartenweiler*
1957
Marie Edwards
Gertrude Maynard*
1959
Mattie Albers
Jessie Smith
Nola Seymour
Freda Jones
Laura Libolt
Ruth Hersey
Bertha Schmidt*
Inez Eliason
Minnie Pesicka
Vera Fuller
1965
Valera Maynard*
Edith Meland
Belle Jenson
Frances McGill
Ruth Edwards
1970
Mrs. Don Schad
1971
Anna Knodel*
1974
Elsie Schulke
Anna Krause
Ethel Williams*
1975
Leora Burgee
Shirley Menzel
1976
Joan Ross
Myrtle Sever
1978
Mercedes Lemke
June McLellan
1979
Lucille Fairbanks
Berniece Zacher
1980
Shirley Anderson
Evelyn Anderson
40 YEAR MEMBERS
1971
Marie Edwards
Ruth Hersey
Nancy Brammer*
Susie Parker
Edith Horton*
Nellie Ross
Amida Lawrence
Edna Anderson*
Myrtle Brummet*
1972
Ruth Edwards
1976
Inez Eliason
1980
Edith Meland
50 YEAR MEMBERS 1975
Susie Parker
Myrtle Brummet*
Edna Anderson*
1976
Amida Lawrence
1978
Nellie Ross
Ruth Hersey
1979
Marie Edwards
Cora Anderson
Hazel Davis
1981
Ruth Edwards
GRAND LADY
1957 Elsie Orbeck and
Gertrude Maynard
1958 Nancy Brammer
1959 Ruth Hunter
1960 Bessie Stevens
1961 Hazel Anderson
1962 Minnie Pesicka
1963 Nellie Ross
1964 Amida Lawrence
1965 Selma McLellan
1966 Edith Horton
1967 Anna Knodel
1968 Ruth Hersey
1969 Marie Edwards
1970 Ruth Edwards
1971 Freda Jones
1972 Myrtle Brummet
1973 Susie Parker
1974 Edna Anderson
1975 Lillie Pesicka
1976 Nola Seymour
1977 Mercedes Lemke
1978 Betty Heckel
1979 Inez Eliason
1980 Lorraine Kintz
1981 Mildred Godschalk
HISTORY OF CLOVER LEAF CLUB
During the month of December in 1925 a number of the ladies in the Clover. Leaf
Community with the assistance of two ladies from the Extension Office at Brookings,
South Dakota, got together and organized a women's Extension Club, being organized
in the Clover Leaf School House and as most of the ladies lived in that community it was
called the "Clover Leaf Extension Club". Sixteen ladies signed up as members. They
were: Mrs. William Aldridge, Mrs. Carl Anderson, Chairman; Mrs. Benhard Anderson,
Nellie Brush, Mrs. C. N. Brummet, Martha Beguhl, Edith Beguhl, Elizabeth Brush, Hazel
Davis, Mrs. Anna Denton, Mary Docekal, Mrs. O. W. Hurst, Vice Chairman; Mrs. Lena
Lightfield, Mrs. Robert Massie, Mattie Ortmayer, Secretary; and Mrs. A. C. Martin. We
followed the demonstrations planned and put out by the State College at Brookings.
Twenty-five cent quarterly dues were paid at first, which was used to pay for material
used in the demonstrations. In 1957, dues were forty cents a year. The raise was in the
State and County dues to carry on the Extension Program.
We met after dinner in the summer and all day in the winter.
The men went along in the winter and enjoyed the pot luck dinner the ladies served
and played cards after dinner, while the ladies had their meeting and demonstration.
Years after that, we would quilt and tie comforters, for the hostess after the meeting.
The club ladies would give a card party at one of their homes each month and entertain
their families.
The club would give one grand party once a year, entertaining the public. In 1957 we
gave a birthday party each month for ones having a birthday during the month.
At one time the club gave one act plays for the public.
The club has given money to the different drives such as: Red Cross, Polio, Cancer,
etc.
Currently our club has fourteen members: Cora Anderson, Shirley Anderson, Evelyn
Anderson, Hazel Davis, Mildred Godschalk, Agnes Norby, Wilma Jochim, Ruby Thomas,
Linda Peterson, Nola Seymour, Edith Meland, Louise Stapert and Gall Stambach. Laura
Libolt lives in Spearfish but still pays her dues and visits whenever she is back in
Dupree.
[photo – Myrtle Brummet, long time pioneer, Clover Leaf Club float, Pioneer Days –
1976]
We are still active and busy helping with community affairs. The men no longer attend
the winter meetings as they did years ago but the ladies continue to meet and have
lunch after their meetings.
One of our Charter members still attends club regularly and helps with all club
projects. Her name is Hazel Davis.
We have several 25-year members: Cora Anderson, Edna Anderson, Hazel
Anderson, Hazel Davis, Myrtle Brummet, Amelia Beghul, Lil Lightfield, Frances Reich,
and Mable Stapert all got their 25-year pins in 1953. In 1959 Nola Seymour and Laura
Libolt received their pins. In 1965 Edith Meland received hers. In 1980 Shirley Anderson
and Evelyn Anderson received theirs.
We also have some 50-year members. Edna Anderson and Myrtle Brummet received
their 50-year pins in 1975, and in 1979 Cora Anderson and Hazel Davis received theirs.
We have also had several members honored as Grand Lady of Extension Clubs.
Hazel Anderson received this honor in 1961, Myrtle Brummet in 1972, Edna Anderson in
1974, Nola Seymour in 1976, and Mildred Godschalk in 1981.
MERIFU EXTENSION CLUB
On May 26, 1926, Mrs. Graves met with the neighbors at the home of Bessie Stevens
to help organize an extension club. After explaining club work to the group, the Merifu
Club organized with the following as charter members: Nancy Brammer, Verna Brown,
Mrs. George Curtis, Ida DuSelle, Amida Lawrence, Gertrude Searson, Katherine Serr,
Bessie Stevens, Mrs. Lewis Taylor and Clarice Wartenweiler. The first Chairman was
Bessie Stevens; Vice Chairman, Gertrude Searson; and Secretary-Treasurer, Amida
Lawrence.
The Merifu Club was the first extension club organized in Ziebach County and held
their meetings in the homes of various members north of town, as all members lived in
the country.
A little later on, Nancy Brammer, Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Taylor asked to leave the club
as we had a large membership at this time. They, along with others, organized the Lone
Tree Club.
The members made dresses of sage green trimmed in rose pink bias tape to wear to
club meetings.
All clubs were asked to compose a song and Mrs. Gertrude Searson composed the
following for our club:
MERIFU CLUB SONG
(Tune of "Maryland, My Maryland")
O here's a jolly bunch for you
A jolly bunch, a merry few,
We cook and sew and try to do
the things to make the world anew.
Our men would grin if they but knew
The stunts we pull, the things we do
But we don't care a shoop, do you
We Merifu, We Merifu.
There's nothing like a friendship true
To smooth the paths that come in view.
Sometimes we're sad, sometimes we're glad
Sometimes our hearts are in a stew
But when we meet a face or two
And see a smile a-shining through,
We're glad we're such a lucky few
We Merifu, We Merifu.
Tho times are hard, and dollars few
The taxes always gouging thru
The payment on the cow is due
And not a penny to renew
Don't tell us we can't manage tho
We know just where the gardens grow,
We'll try again, and beat it too,
We Merifu, We Merifu.
This song was sung at the opening of our meetings. After the business meetings and
demonstrations, a recreation committee had something ready for the remainder of the
afternoon. During cold weather, all-day meetings were held and husbands were invited
to dinner. In the month of November the husbands were invited to a card party held by
the club. Oyster stew was served for refreshments. A Christmas party was held in
December and families invited. There were treats for the children.
The Merifu Club presented a play "The Blue Teapot'' and a minstrel show. These
were given in the Legion Hall in Dupree. A quilt was made and raffled off and the club
held card parties and served suppers to raise money.
The club now has 10 members with one of the members being Amida Lawrence, one
of the charter members. We still serve community club suppers as our main money
making project. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month and hold our meetings in
the members homes. We have our annual Christmas party and gift exchange, to which
the families of the members are invited to attend.
Amida Lawrence and Freda Jones have been honored by being selected as Grand
Lady. Amida Lawrence is our only 50-year member, for which she has been honored at
the State and National meetings. We have three 25-year members. They are: Shirley
Menzel, Leora Burgee, Freda Jones.
THE LONE TREE EXTENSION CLUB by Ruth and Marie Edwards
In August 1929, Mrs. Elmer Brammer and Mrs. Lewis Taylor withdrew their
membership from the Merifu Club whose membership was quite large and existed in a
distant community.
It was through the untiring efforts and leadership of Mrs. Brammer, who was chosen
first club president, that the Lone Tree Club had its beginning. Mrs. Lewis Taylor hosted
the first club meeting and became the first vice-president. Miss Grace Pidcock was first
secretary-treasurer.
The following people also were to become known as charter members: Mrs. Claude
(Gertrude) Maynard, Mrs. Ralph (Myrtle) Carter (Cameron, Missouri), Mrs. Herman
(Beulah) Smith, Mrs. William (Josephine) Thomas, Mrs. Sam (Jessie) Talbot, Mrs. Jim
(Lulu) Pidcock, Mrs. Clark (Marie) Edwards (Dupree), and Grace Pidcock (Preston,
Washington).
The club derived its name from the country school in the area at that time. The
requirement for formation of a new club at that time was that it must have ten members.
This club grew during its first year with the entrance of Mrs. Daisy Packenbush, Mrs.
Henry (Laura) Burgee, Mrs. Canode, Mrs. James Hersey, Mrs. Eulalah Carter Maynard,
and Mrs. Luella Pidcock.
Later on some members moved away but new members added were: Helen
Brammer, Margaret Pesicka, Mrs. Ray Seymour, Mrs. Fred Maynard, Mrs. Barney
Lannen, Mrs. Fred (Minnie) Pesicka, and Ruth Edwards.
In the forties new names added to the roll were: Mrs. Ruth Hersey, Mrs. Kenneth
Brammer, Mrs. Birkenholtz, Mrs. George Pesicka, Mrs. Lawrence Maynard, Mrs.
Ambrose Heimer, Mrs. Lucille Fairbanks, Mrs. Ray Edwards and Mrs. Frank Mraz.
Sheila Morris, Charleen Peterson, Lillie Pesicka, Frankie Reeves, Mildred Rickels,
Grace Rickels, Alva Horton, and Elon Rickels joined the ranks in the fifties.
Leona Warren, Ethel Lammers, Patty Bakeberg, Esther Hemen, Shirley Schmautz,
Carmen Russell, Bonnie Peterson, Loretta Eaton, Helen Reickman, Rate Johnson,
Mildred Miller, Sally Fairbanks, Lorraine Kintz, Helen Alien, Verla Harris, Eva Fields and
Dorothy Johnke were added to the roll in the sixties.
Fay Hersey and Georgia Burnett joined in the 1970's.
Present members are Fay Hersey, Lorraine Kintz, Ruth Hersey, Ruth Edwards, Marie
Edwards, Eva Fields, Lillie Pesicks, and Lucille Fairbanks.
Membership dues have risen from the beginning 22 cents in 1929 and are presently
$1.25.
During the winter months the men were invited and potluck dinners were served.
Many pleasant memories are still cherished. I recall one terrifically cold, bleak January
day we met at our mother's (Mrs. Gertrude Maynard) home. The members all met at one
place and journeyed by bobsled to this destination. As the neighbor driving the team
stepped down to let the members out, one of his feet implanted itself in a bowl of salad,
squashing it to the sides of the pan. Even though he had just come in from doing the
chores, the remains of the salad still were enjoyed by all after the cold trek through the
snow.
Annual New Year's oyster stews and card parties were an early day trademark of the
club. The Fourth of July was celebrated by families and friends of club members at some
nice spot with shade trees, sometimes at one of the club members homes for picnics,
followed by races for young and old. Prizes of candy were given to the children. Baseball
games, tugs of war, etc. were favorites of oldsters. After the big events of the day we
gathered at the school house or one of the homemakers homes and enjoyed dancing
until wee hours of the morning. The music was from a phonograph or live with fiddles
and chord organs.
Card parties and pie socials came into being in the late forties, and boxes of books
were received from the Pierre library during the winter months.
Surprise parties such as the one for Mrs. Gertrude Maynard in the summer of 1960,
on her 79th birthday, at the Elmer Brammer home were not uncommon.
Wedding anniversaries during these later years were celebrated by members
gathering and taking full charge of activities for the 50-Year-Anniversaries of the
Brammers and the Edwards and the Charles Herseys in 1977.
A "float building" project was introduced in 1960 with the club's entry taking first prize
during Dupree Pioneer Days. Since that time to date, the club has entered a float every
year and won first prize all but one.
Early demonstrations included bread in foreign lands, dyeing materials such as flour
and feed sacks for children's clothing, patterns for children's toys, dress making,
homemade soaps and cosmetics and many nutrition and canning lessons.
In more recent years demonstrations on family records, estate planning, arts, South
Dakota history and many other topics have been presented to the club members.
In earlier years booths were set up with displays. Later on, annual achievement day
displays have been held where homemakers vie for ribbons and prizes on projects they
have made during the year.
[photo – County Chairman, Inga Birkeland (far right) presented 25 and 50 year
membership pins to Shirley Menzel, left, Susie Parker, Myrtle Brummet and Edna
Anderson. November 20, 1975]
Charter members Myrtle Carter of Missouri and Grace Pidcock Preston of
Washington correspond with club members. Only one Charter member name remains
on the present roll. Marie Edwards resides in Dupree and attends the club meetings and
is active in float making each year.
THE LUCKY STAR CLUB
History of Redelm, South Dakota by Eleanora Diermier
The Lucky Star Home Extension Club of Redelm was organized in 1951 with six
charter members: Mrs. Elise Orbeck, Mrs. Lelia Knipfer, Mrs. Nellie Ross, Mrs. Louise
Reynolds, Mrs. Nita Nelson and Mrs. Vera Fuller.
The club has striven each year to complete its projects and to participate in state,
county and community affairs. The club sponsors the local 4-H club and stands ready to
assist them.
In 1957, Mrs. Elise Orbeck was chosen as Ziebach County's first Grand Lady at the
annual Achievement Day in Dupree.
Lucky Star members holding county offices during these years have been Mrs.
Lawrence Ross, Mrs. Charles Fuller, and Mrs. Betty Miles. While serving as County
Chairman, Mrs. Lawrence Ross attended the state meeting at Aberdeen in 1951.
[photo – Lucky Star Extension Club of Redelm in May, 1948. Louise Reynolds, Lillie
Graslie, Lelia Knipfer, Annie Knipfer, Neta Nelson, Bertha Lammers, Grace Heckel, Mrs.
Heckel, Vera Fuller, Esther Wince]
Mrs. Charles Fuller attended the state meetings as our County Delegate in 1956 and
1958 and the National Federation Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts in 1953 when she
served as our national delegate.
Mrs. Betty Miles, while serving as County Chairman, attended the State Federation
meeting in Lemmon, S.D., then she went on to attend the national meeting in Oregon. In
1953, the Lucky Star Club had four members eligible to receive 25-year pins: Mrs. Elise
Orbeck, Mrs. Lawrence Ross, Mrs. Nita Nelson, and Mrs. Lelia Knipfer. In 1963, Mrs.
Vera Fuller was eligible for the 25-year pin.
Today we have ten members. We have one 50-year member, Nellie Ross. We have
two 25-year members, Joan Ross and Bette Heckel. The rest of the club members are:
Eleanora Diermier, Janet Roher, Arlene Schauer, Kathy Schuchhardt, Donna Teller,
Carole Wince, and Ruth McGinnis.
[photo – Prairie-dale 4-H Club. Ruth Ross, Jean Tibke, Doris S., Eldora Lammers,
Dorothy Eaton and Leader Nellie Ross]
PRAIRIE PRIDE HISTORY
by Susie M. Parker
A group of women south and southwest of Eagle Butte, in Ziebach County, working
for the Red Cross in 1917, was organized by Mrs. Frank Gladstone and Mrs. Brush from
Dupree. Then it continued as a social club until home extension was available at
Brookings under Susan Z. Wilder.
Charter members were: Ruth Hunter (Mrs. Fred), Maude Parker (Mrs. Floyd), Eldora
Lindley (Mrs. Harlin), Ruth Nelson (Mrs. Art), Bernetta Boone (Mrs. Frank), Edna
Drummond (Mrs. Moody), Etta Vrooman (Mrs. Roy), MyrtIe Vrooman (Mrs. Charlie),
Blanche Rosenstock (Mrs. Frank), Winnifred Rosenstock (Mrs. Fred), and Freddy
Weeks (Mrs. Harry). Four charter members are still living: Maude Parker, Blanche
Rosenstock, Ruth Nelson and Bernetta Boone.
The club was named at Bernetta Boone's house, by everyone putting names in a
shoe box, voted on, and the name Prairie Pride was selected.
Dora Lindley was the first chairman and Maude Parker was the first secretary-
treasurer. These early record books were lost. The first demonstrations given by Susan
Wilder were on canning corn and making baking powder biscuits, in the spring of 1923.
All demonstrations on homemaking arts were excellent.
Early day transportation was different. Teams, wagons, sleds and later Model T
Fords were used to get to the club meetings in the homes. Sometimes a community
party and dances with the men participating were held in someone's house or barn.
There were Christmas parties with men and children, card parties, games and picnics in
the summer. Once, a 4th of July picnic was held at the Schlax Grove on Bear Creek.
Once, a few families went with tents to the mouth of the Cheyenne River to fish. Didn't
catch any fish, but bought some from Merle Badger and had a big fish fry. Nothing tasted
better than those fresh fish! Danced by moonlight on the sand by phonograph records
that night. Such memories. Dancing at country school houses in winter and sometimes
in Louie Meier's haymow. Bill Rummans could call square dances as no one ever could.
Eric Brueschke could play the mouth harp (bazooka), and Frank Zacher the accordion,
and someone at the drums. Once we went to a haymow dance at the Alleman Ranch
just south of the Cheyenne River bridge. Later Arleigh McLellan called the squares and
Johnny Lemke on the drums. A good time was had by all. The neighborhood was a
close knit one for the wonderful friendships.
The regular club meetings were held on the third Thursday of the month, which is still
the same over the years. The first question the men asked the women when they
returned from club was, "What are the neighbors doing?" and "How many acres do they
have in?" So we'd better have an answer for them.
Myrtle Vrooman had the reputation of never missing a club meeting, even taking a
two week old baby. Susie Cutter spent the summers with her sisters and went along to
the club with them as a babysitter for all. All the little ones went to club as there were no
older ones to care for them. Susie received the extension lessons and was treated like a
member. Then, when she married in April, 1925, she became a member. Other
members over the years were: Susie Parker (Mrs. Elmer) 1925, Selma McLellan (Mrs.
Arleigh) 1926, Mae Anderson (Mrs. Dave) 1927, Della McDaniel (Mrs. Howard) 1926,
Sylvia Shuck (Mrs. Fred) 1930.
Jessie Smith (Mrs. Marion) 1930, Edith Horton (Mrs. Ray) 1934, Inez Eliason (Mrs.
Gothard) 1936, Frances McGill (Mrs. Edmund) 1941).
Belle Jensen (Mrs. Chris) 1941, Helen Schad (Mrs. Donald) 1944, Annie Meiers (Mrs.
Louie) 1940's, Anna Knodel (Mrs. John) 1946, Bertha Schmidt (Mrs. Maynard) 1946.
Bernice Zacher (Mrs. Gregory) 1942, rejoined in 1973, reporter, very good; Addie
McDaniel (Mrs. Howard) 1940-44; Ola Durham (Mrs. Walter) 1930's-1940's; Mercedes
Lemke (Mrs. John) 1942, rejoined in 1973; June McLellan (Mrs. Archie) 1947-1952,
rejoined in 1973.
Carol Thomas (Mrs. Willis) 1948-49, Myrtle Severs (Mrs. Lee) 1949, rejoined in the
1960's, Eleanor Eberhard (Mrs. Edgar) a short period, Mrs. Art Reeves, a short period,
Mrs. Reuben Schmidt, a short period.
Jessie Yusko (Mrs. John) 1962-71, Norma Hertel (Mrs. Lester) 1973-75, Irene McGill
(Mrs. Lincoln) 1973, Helen Wishard (Mrs. Tom), Lillian Vrooman (Mrs. Gerald) 1973,
Verna Schad (Mrs. Sidney), a short period.
Susie Parker has served as District Vice-President. Inez Eliason and Belle Jensen
have served as County Chairmen. June McLellan has been County Vice-President and
Secretary-Treasurer.
Susie Parker and Bertha Schmidt attended the National meeting at Brookings in
1956.
When the Prairie Pride Club was too large, with 23 members, to meet in the homes,
a young club was organized. This Club was the "Young Homemakers".
Prairie Pride is honored to have had six Grand Ladies: Ruth Hunter, Anna Knodel,
Edith Horton, Selma McLellan, Susie Parker and Mercedes Lemke.
Prairie Pride and the Clover Leaf Clubs were organized about the same time.
TOP HAND 4-H CLUB
by Charlie Longbrake
In 1958-59 the Top Hand 4-H Club was organized as a Light Horse Project Club
through the efforts of John E. Powell, Ziebach County Extension Agent. Margaret Powell
and Evelyn Parker served as leaders.
It had seven members the first year. The officers and members were Vernon Starr,
president, Tom Coleman, secretary-treasurer, Alice Ochsner, reporter, Shirley
Vandervier, Vicky Parker, Johnny Stout and Cherie Parker.
The dues were 10 cents and members participated in the Light Horse project,
livestock judging at Woodward's and Share the Fun.
The first county 4-H rodeo was organized in 1958 by the Mud Butte Club and was
held at Faith. This was successful so it was continued each year thereafter. John Powell
served as coordinator for other county 4-H rodeos. His involvement in working with a 4-H
rodeo program stems from a heritage and background in horses.
A 4-H chorus was organized in 1968-69. Cherry pie baking contests and public
speaking contests and Rural Life Sunday participation were highlights of the club. Top
Hand Club adopted grandparents each year as part of their community work. When the
Dupree Manor was built the club members did community work such as planting trees
and buying chairs for the residents. An auto safety check was conducted by members.
Livestock judging teams were successful throughout the 1960's and early 1970's. The
senior livestock judging team won first place at the Black Hills Stock Show in 1969-70.
[photo – John Powell, Ziebach County Extension Agent, 1955-1961, helped organize
Top Hand 4-H Club which initiated 4-H rodeo at the county and later state level]
Top Hand 4-H Club has an impressive record in horsemanship with several members
qualifying for state judging teams and winning high individual honors.
The organization has always had a float entered in the Pioneer Days Parade and
often won first place. Members did a lot of work on the Dupree rodeo grounds helping to
improve it over the years.
[photo - Top Hand 4-H float, 1973. Cathy Birkeland, Clint and Doug Birkeland, Bud
Longbrake and Dick Johnson]
[photo – Top Hand 4-H Club singing Christmas carols at Minda Anderson's home, 1973.
Jeannie Allan, Mark Johnson, Bud Longbrake, Dick Johnson, Delbert Longbrake, Jake
Longbrake, Dale Johnson, Cathy Birkeland, Clint Birkeland, Doug Johnson, Doug
Birkeland, Charlie Longbrake. 4-H Club leader, Beverly Birkeland]
In 1971 special recognition was given to Ida Marie Norton, home economist and Neil
Vollmer, county agent, for the 4-H program in Ziebach County. This recognition was
given to three counties in the state whose 4-H enrollment increased the highest percent
during the year. Ziebach increased 30 percent which was second highest.
In 1972 there seemed an apparent need for a state 4-H finals rodeo. Ziebach County
received state recognition for the highest number of contestants at a county 4-H rodeo
with 217 contestants. The first state rodeo was organized, through the efforts of John
Powell, and approved as an athletic activity under the light horse project, its goal being
to keep older 4-H boys and girls involved in 4-H for a longer period of time.
Top Hand members seemed to excel at rodeo and it gains in popularity each year.
They have had many state qualifiers including Renee Kost who was the second state 4-
H queen. 4-H rodeo contestants have gone into amateur and professional rodeo after
completing their 4-H years.
John Powell retired from the South Dakota Extension Service in June 1980 and he
and his wife Margaret presently reside on a ranch north of Rapid City. Margaret works
with the Farmers Home Administration and John rodeos on weekends as a roper. The
1980 South Dakota 4-H Finals Rodeo was dedicated to John for his years of service and
organization.
The Top Hand 4-H Club is presently in its 23rd year of organization and has had
outstanding members. They have had success in many areas such as public speaking,
home economics, livestock judging, horsemanship and rodeo as well as community
service. Through its members and leaders it has developed outstanding citizens who are
in turn working with other youths to make Ziebach County a better place in which to grow
up.
The present membership is 20 and the leader is Mary Lou Griffith with Rita Birkeland
as assistant leader. Officers are Darci Dahl, president; Monnie Birkeland, vice president;
Kristi Graslie, secretary; and Neilie Tibbs, treasurer. Lisa and Lori Starr are Sunshine
Workers.
THE DUPREE COMMUNITY CLUB
The Dupree Community Club was organized April 21, 1958 when the Dupree
Businessmen's Association invited their wives to the meeting and decided to discontinue
as a businessmen's club. The consensus was that a larger membership and better
attendance could be attained by having a community club. It was the desire of those
present that everyone in the community should work with unity and with a cooperative
spirit for the good of all, and the achievement of worthwhile goals.
The meetings are now held the second Monday of each month and are always
preceded by a dinner prepared by the different service organizations in the area.
Membership has grown from a handful of businessmen to over seventy civic-minded
area residents.
[photo – Colette Birkland, 1982 Snow Queen, the reigning "Miss Dupree"]
[photo – The sack race is a popular feature of the street sports held at the Annual
Pioneer Days Celebration]
The original officers were: Roy Kraft, President, Ambrose Heimer, Vice-President;
Mary Deis, Secretary; and Carol Thomas, Treasurer. Presently serving as officers are
Vernon Starr, President; Leon Edlund, President-Elect; Raymond Kintz, Secretary; and
Mary Gage, Treasurer.
Because the Annual Pioneer Days Celebration is the chief means of raising money,
much planning and many hours of volunteer labor is expended toward making each and
every celebration better than the last.
The Community Club has been most instrumental in acquiring land for the Pioneer
Days Arena, in making improvements, and in the maintenance of the Arena Complex.
It was in the late 60's to mid-70's that most of the construction was done at the
Complex. The Dupree Community Club is well-known for its ability to erect an arena or
grandstand just a mere ten days prior to a rodeo performance. However, it has not all
been achieved through the efforts of the Community Club alone. Many organizations
have helped along the way and the Ziebach County 4-H Leaders Association has been
one of the Club's biggest boosters.
In addition to sponsoring the Pioneer Days Celebration, the Club is responsible for
the Christmas Street decorations and Annual Santa Claus Day, the Easter Egg Hunt, for
staging of the most continuous presentations of a South Dakota Snow Queen Festival,
the Citizen of the Year Award, and most recently, took on the sponsorship of a South
Dakota High School Regional Rodeo.
[photo – Dude Burgee's "reward" for walking from Lantry to Dupree was to cut Neil
Birkeland's hair. Dude's Walkathon added almost $500.00 to the Grandstand Fund in
1979]
[photo – Shirley Menzel receiving her Citizen of the Year award from Maurice Lemke,
Community Club president, December, 1981]
[photo – Neoma Johnson, LeRoy Wicks, Inga Birkeland, Lawrence Woodward and Ruth
Hersey, all from the winning country team at Community Club-sponsored Whist parties]
Citizen of year namely:
1962 Leo Bakeberg, Sr.
1963 Keith Wartenweiler
1964 Gerald Lewis
1965 Lucile Silverman
1966 Mable Ross
1967 Joe Heimer
1968 Nellie Ross
1969 Maurice Hickenbotham
1970 Marvin Russell
1971 Lloyd Dunbar
1972 Milan Salisbury
1973 Bill Carmody
1974 Maurice Lemke
1975 Art Jones
1976 Lawrence E. Woodward
1977 Petty Carmody
1978 Lillie Pesicka
1979 Henry Burgee
1980 Ruth Edwards
1981 Shirley Menzel
[photo – Dupree Rodeo Grounds]
[photo – Belly dancers getting ready to perform at Community Club variety show]
[photo – Each year at the December meeting of Community Club, the tradition of the
"Rural School Christmas Program" is revived. "Pupils" are all adults willing to "act like
kids"]
[photo – Deanne Marple giving her report on her U. N. trip at Community Club]
[photo – Jeri Lemke, Charles Hersey, Fred Menzel and Ruth Hersey at a Community
Club sponsored Whist party]
[photo – Marty and Justin Burgee with 9 grandparents. October, 1977. Seated: all great-
grandparents, Henry Burgee, Laura Burgee, Nellie Ross, Berneita Miller, Bertha
Bierman, and Justin. Standing: grandparents Roland Burgee, Leonora Burgee, Joan
Ross (holding Marty) and Harold Ross]
[photo – Ann Coleman and Jackie Birkeland dancing the Charleston at the Golden
Jubilee, June, 1960]
[photo – Santa Claus Day sponsored by Dupree Community Club]
[photo – North against South tug-of-war at the annual Pioneer Days Celebration]
[photo – The Legion and Auxiliary float, 1976 Pioneer Days. Parade flags were sewn by
Auxiliary members]
[photo – Bill Carmody helping with greased pig event at Pioneer Days street sports]