Sowing grass for new park addition in 1978.
   Park Chairman, Bob Bell, Shelli McDonald and Jaycee president, Gary McDonald.

    Seated, left to right: Larry Navrkal, Jeff Modde, Dan Hilger.
    Middle row: Dennis Dostal, Frank Fichtl, Dwaine Dunn, Richard Cole, Gary McDonald.
    Back row: Ben Forney, Mat Forney, Marty Sauberzweig, Chris Brandenburgh, Ron Dolezal.

Mrs. Jaycee Chapter.
    Front row: left to right: Deb Dolezal, Sharon Navrkal, Lori Sauberzweig, Bea Dunn.
    Middle row: Jolene Fichtl, Terry McDonald, Jolene Brandenburgh, Shirley McDonald.
    Back row: Joyce Napier, Mary Jane Hilger, Sally Hans, Janelle Schmale, Verlene Rinke, Glenda Cole.

Planting a Cottonless Cottonwood for Bellwood Centennial, April 22, 1980.
    Back row, left to right: Richard Cole, Ben Forney, Gayle Forney, Shirley McDonald with Melissa, Glenda Cole, Mary Jane Hilger, Dan Hilger.
    Front row: ShelIi McDonald, Brad Forney.

   Bellwood Rebekah Lodge, Number 367 was instituted on Jan. 11, 1922, by the officers of the Rebekah Assembly of Nebraska, namely: Alice Coy, President; Elsie A. Buchta, Past President; and Emma L. Talbot, Secretary. The degree staff of Mary's Lodge No. 18 of David City exemplified the Rebekah Degree in initiating the petitioners.
   The Charter Members were Adeline Smith, Ora Brandenburgh, Rose Burk, Emma Taylor, Dayton Smith, Mabel Judevine, Allen H. Whitney, Walter Meinyer, Chester Burch, A. C. Burk, E. H. Sink, Glen Meinyer, H. A. Taylor, Gertrude Swan, Osto Heath, George McGaffin, Henry Whitney, Millie Whitney, J. P. Meinyer, Emma Meinyer, Martha Brandenburgh, A. R. Brandenburgh, Sr., A. R. Brandenburgh, Jr., Jennie Cooper, Mary Smith, Lottie Dawson, Edna M. Whitney, Ruby Challstrom, E. E. Swan, G. A. Wilson, Millie Kamenske and Laura Curtis.
   Edna Whitney is the only Charter Member who is still a member of the Bellwood Lodge.
   The purpose of Rebekahs is to work for the betterment of all mankind in friendship, love, and truth. The members visit the sick, bury the dead, educate the orphans, and assist anyone in need. They contribute to worthy causes such as: The Eye Bank Project, Educational Foundation, Hunger and Disaster Fund, and The Rose Parade Float Fund.
   On April 14, 1947, the Bellwood Rebekahs sponsored and organized a Theta Rho Club in Bellwood. Twelve girls and me Rebekahs joined and the club has been active for 33 years. Many of these young ladies have expressed their appreciation for the training they get in conducting a meeting properly and in learning to consider others as well as themselves.
   Twelve young people from the Bellwood community have been sponsored by the Rebekahs on the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth, a trip never to be forgotten. A Christmas party is enjoyed each year by the Odd Fellows, Theta Rho Girls, Rebekahs, and their families, with a covered dish dinner, program, Santa Claus, and gifts and treats for all.
   The elderly and shut-ins are remembered with cookie plates at Christmas time. Members are remembered with

58

cards, gifts, and visits when hospitalized, and in case of death memorials are given along with sympathy and offers of assistance. A memorial service for all deceased members is held each year and graves are decorated on Memorial Day.
   Two Bellwood members, Millie Kamenske and Rhoda Cook, have received the Decoration of Chivalry Jewel, the highest honor in Rebekah Odd Fellowship.
   Several of the members have been honored with appointments to state offices in the Rebekah Assembly of Nebraska. They include: Edna Whitney, Page, 1940; Ruth Matheny, Song Leader, 1944; Doreen Bell, Musician, 1965; Dorothy Forre, Color Bearer, 1978; Opal Benedict, Canadian Color Bearer, 1979; Viola Stack, Personal Page to President, 1979; Rhoda Cook, Chaplain, 1953, Member of Joint Youth Committee, 1962, Assembly Warden, 1963, Assembly Vice President, 1964, Assembly President, 1965, Member of Home Board, 1971-1973, and Assembly Treasurer, 1973-1980.
   The major project at this time is the completion of the new Lodge Hall and all the Rebekahs appreciate the help their friends have given in raising money for the project.

   The Bellwood Harmony Theta Rho Girls Club No. 52 was instituted on April 13, 1947, with the following Charter members: Merlene Clair Carpentar, Darlene Lewis, Cora Ann Hoshor, Joyce Ann Raric, Elizabeth Del Jacobs, La Ree Bock, Edith Louise Carson, Zelda Mae Langhorst, Leola Maxine Baer, Betty Jean Langhorst, Merna Mae Brase, and Stella Mae Lewis.
   The purpose of the Theta Rho Club is to teach the girls how to conduct a meeting correctly, to respect their elders and to do for others.
   We have had two state presidents, Joan Bohaty Grothe presided as president in Grand Island in 1963. Eileen Kinnison Urabcah presided in Omaha in 1967. Julia Bykerk will be president in 1981. We have had one Queen at our Assembly, Pat Hoshor Lostroh in 1965 in Scottsbluff. The Theta Rho Girls have donated money to the new Rebekah Lodge Hall. They have sung at the cemetery at several of our Memorial Day Services and at church. They have helped the Easter Seal fund by selling Easter lilies prior to Easter, collected for the Heart Fund, Cystic Fibrosis Fund, and helped sell tickets on chances for different items that helped the retarded.
   We have made favors for the residents of the Villa and for the residents of the Odd Fellows Home when we had it.
   We have a social hour after our meetings with lunch, playing games and other kinds of entertainment.
   The following have been advisors to our Theta Rho Club: Rhoda Cook, Doreen Bell, Viola Stack, Glenna Cresson, and Janice Bykerk.

   W.I.F.E.-Women Involved in Farm Economics is a Womans Farm Organization formed by a group of women at Sidney, Nebraska in 1976. Its full purpose is to promote prosperity in agriculture in a dignified, energetic, law abiding course.
   Chapter 32 was formed at Bellwood, Nebraska in June of 1977 with fifteen Charter members: Meraldeen Hough, Rene Schmit, Mary Rose Schmid, Tina Beringer, Geraldine Zimmer, Sharon Schmit, Pam Hough, Eileen Nekl, Ella Markus, Joan Semin, Gussie Wilson, Viola Schmid, Geraldine Gruenewald, Maureen Lnenicka and Marguerite Hiller.
   We have been writing to our Congressional Delegation and officials of the United States Department of Agriculture and many other officials supporting legislation that would permit the farmer to cover the cost of production and make a just profit.
   We, as a national organization, strive to alleviate the energy shortage by promoting the production and use of Gasohol, a product of 10 percent alcohol and 90 percent gas. The alcohol being produced from some farm products.

   In December of 1967, Lola Hicks and Marjorie Kimble hosted a Christmas party for widows and women living alone.
   We decided that evening that we would get together once a month, on the third Monday of the month, for a social evening. Names were submitted for a name for our club. Mrs. Sadie Flake's suggestion of W.W.T.K. was chosen. We now have a membership of twenty.

    This picture shows nearly all the charter members of the club. Standing are Ada Baer, Ann Michael, Sarah Baer, Sadie Flake, Florence Kamenske, Ruth Cockson, Marjorie Kimble, Lola Hicks.
    Seated: Molly Kreizinger, Ann Medinger and Henrietta Andrews. Other members were Agnes Schmit, Reatha Hall and Edna Hiller.

59

   The Just Neighbors Extension Club was organized on October 6, 1950 at the home of Mrs. Walter Hoshor by County Home Agent Mrs. Althea Byers.
   The first officers were: Mrs. Walter Hoshor, president; Mrs. Audrey Kreizinger, vice president; Mrs. Jack Selzer, secretary-treasurer.
   Charter members were: Mrs. Chris Hiller, Mrs. John Hoshor, Mrs. Jack Selzer, Mrs. Chas. Brandenburgh, Mrs. Garland Mais, Mrs. Robert Kinnison, Mrs. M. A. Benedict, Mrs. Audrey Kreizinger, Mrs. Walter Hoshor, Mrs. Lad Wirka, and Mrs. Joe Kopecky.
   Mrs. M. A. Benedict and Mrs. Walter Hoshor and Mrs. Joe Kopecky are still members of the club.
   Mrs. M. A. Benedict is a past County Chairman.
   Stress of the Home Extension Clubs was originally placed on cooking and sewing, but now also includes home furnishing and decorating, home management, family relationships, music and literature.
   During the Second World War, emphasis was placed on food production, food preservation and better nutrition.
   One activity of the club was selling cook books to finance playground equipment for the Bellwood school, and to give toys to the Beatrice State Home.
   In 1964, they also got some action, after others had failed, with a letter written to the president of the railroad asking to have railroad signal lights installed on Highway 64, east of Bellwood, where several accidents had occurred. The ladies were successful, even though it did take one and one-half years before the crew began the installation work.
   Some of their projects have been donations to the Cancer Drive, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Columbus Opportunity Center, Sunshine Court and St. Joseph's Villa.

60