Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

Editor’s note: Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.) is a benevolent organization for women.

This week’s article is a tribute to past and present P. E. O. members I was to present at a P.E. O. meeting on April 17. However, my surgery had first priority that day, and instead, a friend read this in my place:

“I was inducted into the Bloomington’s chapter P, P.E.O. during the fall of 1973. Time has changed us all and taken its toll on many of our chapter’s members. As I look around at my Sisters seated here this evening, some are very young and some are in midlife. Please let me tell you about a time when I was considered to be the young one.

“In 1973, Bonnie Moore, Janea Kahrs, Coletta Robinson and I were the best of friends. We all had young children we used to bring to the P. E. O., sometimes simply because we had no babysitter. Some of these young children are grown and now have their own children. I look back to those times with warm feelings and I enjoy reliving those memories.

“In July 1971, my family moved north of Bloomington. That fall, we returned to Denver to work for the winter, returning to the farmhouse the next April. From then, until I joined, I must have bothered my new friends with my questions about the P. E. O. What is P. E. O., I would often ask them. What do you do in P. E. O.? The only thing I knew then was that my friends spent lots of time cleaning house before that day and I often watched their children while they went to the meetings. I knew P. E. O. was a group to which almost every woman wanted to belong.

“I felt honored the day my invitation came and, that very night, as I wrote my acceptance letter, I wondered if what I wrote would be considered worthy.

“When I was initiated at the home of Pauline Douglas that fall day, I remember how nervous I was when they came and got me, looking like angels. I had my hair on top of my head and had on a red and white dress, which was probably too short for the standard’s of P. E. O. but was truly the fashion of the time.

“There is an entirely new group of people from what I saw on that special day. I would like to tell you about the personal founders of the P. E. O. I met that first year in P. E. O.

“Lura Voight: I admired her dress code. She was always dressed to the nines. Lura was active and always on the move. She attended me at the Franklin Clinic when I was expecting my first child. I saw her at the Bloomington Post Office one day and remarked about her new outfit. ‘Oh no,’ she said. ‘I’ve had this old thing for a long time.’ I had never seen it before. I thought, ‘someday that’s the way I want to be.’ The day she died, Lura got her hair fixed in the morning, and passed away in the afternoon. Hers was a good life well lived.

“Myrtle Jones: I never knew Myrtle, but I remember going to her funeral with a group of P. E. O. sisters. I am sorry I didn’t know her.

“Thelma Newton: I am also sorry to say I didn’t know her either, but during my first years in P. E. O. I heard her name many times.

“Elba Hogeland: One of my dearest old sisters. She was a woman of refinement and was very interested in her family and knew every grandchild by name and age. I spent many evenings walking with her around Bloomington. Sometimes after we walked, we had black cherry tea. I remember the pfeffernuesse cookies she used to make, and only lately I have come to know how important a jar of those little anise flavored cookies is, now that I don’t have the chance to win them in the Christmas drawing. Alan, Elba, and I spent may happy summertime hours on their front porch, and my son Steve, sometimes joined us.

“Emily Kahrs: What a graceful lady. If we ever needed to know about P. E. O. procedures, just ask Emily. I think she knows all the rules of our Sisterhood. A short story shows her graciousness. I had P. E. O. at my house and didn’t really have a good coffee server, but I used what I had in those early days. I was pouring coffee around the living room and I dribbled hot coffee down her leg and quickly said I was sorry. In a very quiet voice she said, ‘that’s just all right.’ I will never forget how comfortable she made me feel that day. God bless her.

“Pauline Douglas: I was initiated at her home down on the river road. I will never forget sitting in her bedroom awaiting initiation. Afterward, I sat in a rocker in her living room and was treated nicely by all that were there that day. She shortly moved away, so I really didn’t get to know her as well as I would have liked to.

“Marie Dunn: to me, she was a stern woman, but I remember going to her nice house once a year to be entertained. Marie was relation to my husband’s family. Her husband, Vern, and I had some good talks. I have him talking history to me on tape. He was probably the first person I interviewed.

“Ruth Reynolds: Ruth makes us all laugh. Anytime Ruth was at a meeting it lifted our spirits. To our young members, it was important to add some humor to our solemn meetings. I sure miss her sitting next to me. I learned a lot of history from her and her husband, Franklin. I could use a bit of Ruth’s humor this evening.

“Edna Moore: This is another lady that knew all things about P. E. O. I can still see her looking on with great interest at the president as she conducted the meeting. She took all she said in and remembered it. Edna enjoyed her home and her life, and especially took great pride in her grandchildren’s education. Edna was a teacher at one time and education meant a lot to her.

“Virginia Goedeken: We all know how wonderful it is to go to Virginia’s house. I try not to miss it. I was telling her how I hate to clean house. She told me another way to look at cleaning. ‘Pick up each item and dust if and remember its history and where you got it or who gave it to you.’ I am sure this works for her, as her house is completely dust free. It’s an entertaining evening when it’s spent at Virginia’s I wish I had Virginia’s energy. She is a very special lady to all of us.

“Lois Pollman: She was the most laid back lady. Lois lived north of Bloomington, and it was fun to be at her house. She was so peaceful. We could all take a lesson from her. Lois had arthritis and looked in pain but never complained and always took her turn at having the meetings. Just sitting with her made me calm. I miss her presence.

“Verda Hager: Verda always sat and observed what was going on. Her kitchen floor shined on the day of our meeting. It’s funny now, but more than once she told me, ‘Your blouse is unbuttoned.’ It was only the top button, but I would say ‘thanks’ and would button it up. She was from the old school where one was covered up. Verda didn’t say much, but she returned my smile. I thought she lived a quiet life.

“Ilow Soker: Ilow was a fancy lady and always dressed really nice. I must have won her respect, for later in life after she couldn’t attend meetings, she called me to come and get some old photos of Bloomington. They were wonderful old photographs. Her father was Willie Cole, the realtor of Bloomington.

“Flora Sindt: the lady with a nice smile. Flora carried herself with poise. I never knew she was as old as she was. Her complexion was pretty. After a walk on a hot summer day, I learned from Flora, to put some hardened candy in ice tea to make it taste sweeter.

“Marguerite Kelly: I think of her as a Southern Belle, i.e. prim, proper, and elegant. Her home reflected her Southern heritage. I look at her today and think, ‘that lady hasn’t changed in all the years I have known her.’ I missed her when she took her leave of absence and I am so glad to have her back at our meetings. Her southern voice is a comfort to me, since we both share the same background.

“These are my special P. E. O. members.

“I sit at our meetings, now one of the older members. I believe I will never know as much as they did about the organization, and sometimes I don’t feel worthy of the Sisterhood, for I will never be as good as those members who came before me. They knew the honor of being a sister and I am so glad I knew every one of them. They were grand ladies.

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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