SOUTH DAKOTA July 2013

QUESTER NEWSLETTER

"It's Fun to Search and a Joy to Find"

Vol. 30 No.1

SD web site: http://www.sd-questers.org/ SD QUESTERS EXECUTIVE BD STATE PRESIDENT Patty Kratochvil FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Jeanne Collison SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Ann Swift TREASURER Maureen Sage RECORDING SECRETARY Marilyn Fransen CORREPONDING SECRETARY Lyla Bultema STATE TELLER Sharon Christensen PARLIAMENTARIAN Char Alverson HISTORIAN Gwen Larson NEWLETTER EDITOR Dawn Stoner P&R COMMITTEE CHAIR Nancy Gwen NOMINATING COMMITTEE Linda Kollars IMPORTANT DATES: STATE CONVENTIONS: Aberdeen, Land Of Oz 2014 Rapid City, Rushmore Memories 2015 Brookings, Coutea, 2016 Canton/Sioux Falls, Klondike Mill/Dacatahs 2017 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION: April 25-27, 2014 Grand Rapids, MI 2015 Princeton, NJ 2016 Iowa

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE QUESTERS CONVENTION LIGHT OF THE PRAIRIE

SAVE THE DATE MAY 30 AND 31, 2014 ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA CONVENTION CENTER RAMKOTA HOTEL LAND OF OZ HOST CHAPTER

South Dakota Questers enjoyed the hospitality of the Arikara Questers at the spring convention May 31 and June 1 in Yankton! Who would have thought that an open door warehouse sans screens would be the setting for an elegant dining and program experience! Jeanne Stokebrand the International President and her daughter came and celebrated with us. The two Bess Barden seminars led us through the revitalization of Yankton’s many historic buildings and an indoor “Graveyard Walk” complete with actors of long deceased, colorful Yankton characters. “Our Boots Were Made For Walking!” Thank you! Jeanne Stokebrand kept reinforcing the need to promote Questers first as an organization that concentrates on restoration and preservation, and secondly, that we have fun searching and learning about those antiques we all cherish. Nancy Gowen is in charge of the Quester grant applications—there will soon be a shortened form for submitting grants posted on the SD Questers website http://sd-questers.org/ Three grants were awarded for three separate chapters at convention. Keep spreading the word about Questers! It need not be a well kept secret. Invite friends, hold gatherings at your local library and invite guests. Have your local antique stores hand out a shortened page listing your members, programs and projects. Keep Questing! Patty Kratochvil, SD Quester President

SD STATE QUESTERS EXECUTIVE BOARD 2013-2014

L to R: Patty Kratochvil, President, Marilyn Fransen, Recording Secretary, Maureen Sage, Treasurer, Lyla Bultema Corresponding Secretary. Back Row Ann Swift, Second Vice-President. Absent from picture Jeanne Collison, First Vice President

SOUTH DAKOTA QUESTERS OFFICERS 2010-2011 State President President (2012-2014)-Patty Kratochvil, 411 Fourth St., Brookings, SD. 57006 605-695-4638 or 605-697-7377, [email protected] Coteau #1189 First Vice-President (2012-2014): Jeanne Collison, 2303 Burleigh St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-6165, [email protected] Stanage #612 Second Vice-President: (2013-2015): Ann Swift, 142 Katherine Way, Yankton, SD 57078 605-668-9777 annelois71@hc Arikara@0419 Treasurer: (2013-2015) Maureen Sage, 2312 E. Harriet Lea St. Sioux Falls, SD 57103 605-336-9147 [email protected], Dacotas #0971 Recording Secretary: (2013-2015 Marilyn Fransen, 2442 Merlot Dr. Rapid City, SD 57701-6702 605-716-6702 [email protected] Rushmore Memories #1137 Corresponding Secretary: (2012-2014) Lyla Bultema, 1230 Winchester Lane, Aberdeen, SD 57401 605-252-0343, [email protected] , Emerald City#1197 State Teller: Sharon Christensen, PO Box 14, Hurley, SD 57036 605-238-5710, [email protected] Soge Og Laere #1063 Parliamentarian Char Alverson, 46257 240th St. Chester, SD 57016, 605-489-2266, [email protected] Prairie Pasque #1072 P & R Committee: Nancy Gowen, 1609 Palo Verde, Rapid City, SD 57701 605-342-5066, [email protected], Rushmore Memories #1147 Historian Gwen Larson 23516 465th Ave Wentworth, SD 57075 [email protected] 605-483-3114, Prairie Pasque #1072 Newsletter Editor: Dawn Stoner 1305 Maple St., Yankton, SD 57078 605-664-9067 or cell 605-660-2570 [email protected], Stanage #612 Nominating Committee: (2012-2014) Linda Kollars, 2010 Roberts St., Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-2236, cell 605-661-2305 [email protected], Laura Ingals Wilder #1255 SD STATE QUESTERS CHAPTER PRESIDENTS ARIKARA #0419 Jill Kouri 712 West 3rd St Yankton, SD 57078 605-668-2792 [email protected]

RUSHMORE MEMORIES #1147 Marilyn Fransen 4808 Prairie Rose Place Rapid City, SD 57702 605-415-2901 [email protected]

SOGE OG LAERE # 1063 Marilyn Bondesen 28468 SD Hwy 19 Hurley, SD 57036 [email protected]

STANAGE #0612 Donna Ellis 1205 W 10th Yankton, SD57078 605-665-2779 [email protected]

COTEAU #1189 Crystal Thompson 22915 486th Ave Flandreau, SD 57078 605-997-3671 [email protected]

PRAIRIE PASQUE #1072 Gwen Larsen 23516 465th ave Wentworth, SD 57075 605-270-3241 [email protected]

EMERALD CITY #1197 Mary Worlie 25007 Primrose Lane. Aberdeen, SD 57401 605-665-4785 [email protected]

JOHNNY SPAULDING 1434 Mary Ellen Warren 1320 9th Ave Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-892-3418 [email protected]

DACOTAS # 0971 Martha Baker 7313 Edinburg Pll Sioux Falls, SD 57108 605-338-7997 [email protected]

YELLOW BRICK ROAD #1198 Evelyn Nikolas 815 N Lincoln St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 605-225-7360 [email protected]

LAURA INGALLS WILDER #1255 Janette Marker 321 Lewis & Clark Trail Yankton, SD 57078 605-689-0224 [email protected]

LAND OF OZ # 1001 Sue Wischmeier 2509 Rolling Meadow Dr Aberdeen, SD 57401 605-226-3804 [email protected]

KLONDKE MILL #1341 Linda Ripley 823 N Kidder St. Canton, SD 57013 605-987-4241 [email protected]

QUEEN CITY #1492 Julie Chapman 3010 Sapphire Lane Spearfish, SD 57783 605-722-9989 [email protected]

DAKOTA TERRITORY Loraine McNeely 2205 Burleigh #109 Yankton, SD 57078 [email protected] 605-665-4785

#794

Greetings from the International Convention in Rogers, AR. The Bentonville High School Chamber Choir sang at the Presidents Reception dinner. They have been invited to sing in many prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall. The annual banquet program was about "Our Natural Gems", Garvan Gardens, with Susan Harper as Verna Cook Garven. The Mayor of Rogers, AR spoke prior to the speaker. He was hilarious. Said he had gotten a phone call the night before from a quester that needed a dentist, then gave out his phone number. The speaker at the luncheon was Bruce Fox, Fisher-Price Historian. “From the Great Depression to the New Millennium”. Like many companies, Fisher-Price started out as a small family business. At the annual meeting, the chapter census showed 729 chapters, with 11,864 members. Unfortunately, the numbers are down by 46 chapters, and 750 members. Like every other organization, Questers are struggling to maintain membership. One suggestion to help keep membership was to “adopt” a mature chapter. At the workshop I attended, discussion was funding for preservation, restoration projects, and what can and cannot be presented for a grant. Preservation/restoration can, general maintenance and repair cannot. Bess Bardens seminars were: Flow Blue, Victorian Painted Milk Glass, the care and feeding of Teddy Bears and a young girls' life in WWII Germany. On the way home, we ran into quite a few detours. The correct spelling for detour is "antique mall" isn't it?

Submitted by Linda Kollars, Past SD Questers State President

Friendships are cultivated at International Conventions. Here is Linda Kollars with Sue Slight outgoing Second Vice- President International from Iowa

Land of Oz: Four members attended State Convention in Yankton. We especially enjoyed the Mead Bldg Tour and the Tea. Arikara chapter presented a delicious Friday Banquet and the Speaker was very thought provoking and FUN. The Saturday seminars by Lois Varvel and Anne Swift were cleverly presented and especially interesting as two of us were originally from Yankton. Thank You to the Arikara chapter. On June 13 our Garden Walk was attended by some 325 people. It was a perfectly BEAUTIFUL day, (the only one that week.) Our member, Bette Sandvig, is always in charge of the weather! This year all three Aberdeen Questers Chapters worked together on the Walk for the first time. From June 13, 2013 Garden Walk in Aberdeen. Left to Right:: Jean Campbell, Karol Parsons, Bette Sandvig and Carol Leach, Land of Oz

Yellow Brick Road: SD Questers you are all invited to the public open house at the Dacotah Prairie Museum on Tuesday, July 23 for the unveiling of the newly restored oil painting by John Ashford "Portrait of a Young Woman". The reception will be held from 5 to 7 PM . This will also be open to the public. This project was made possible with the help of the South Dakota Questers Grant in the amount of $3000.00. Thank you all for your support. Sue Gates, Director Dacotah Prairie Museum; Evelyn Nikolas and Jean Weber members Yellow Brick Road Questers at the unveiling of "Portrait of a Young Woman" by Frank Ashford. Second painting "Portrait of a Woman with a Coral Necklace" was a surprise found under the first canvas. Emerald City: . We lost our president, Valrae Miller on April 29, 2013. She is sorely missed. The most exciting thing we have done is combined forces with the other two groups in Aberdeen to host the Garden Walk. The picture is women from Aberdeen who helped with the Garden Walk and also attended the SD Quester Convention in Yankton. Left to Right BACK ROAD: Susan Wischmeier (Land of Oz), Lyla Bultema (Emerald City) and Joycel Goodrich, Nella Thompson and Evelyn Nikolas all of (Yellow Brick Road) FRONT ROW: Barb Frank, Carol Leach, and Cynthea Born all of Land of OZ and Carol Lowe (Yellow Brick Road)

Prairie Pasque Questers will once again be selling cookbooks during “Mart In The Park” in Madison on July 27. Cookbook sales and support has been great, and currently there are only about 150 left! If you’d like one before they are gone, please mail $20 per book (includes $5 shipping) to Gwen Larsen, 23516 465th Ave, Wentworth SD 57075 or call 605-270-3241Prairie

Rushmore Memories Quester Chapter on June 26, 2013, Rapid City’s, enjoyed a tour of the Pennington County Court house located in Rapid City. The courthouse was built in 1922 and was the third courthouse on site. The chapter members were led on their tour by Mike Kuhl, Construction Project manager, and Mike Peterson, director of Pennington County Buildings and Grounds. The information given and the work going on at the Courthouse was genuinely impressive to the Questers who, as a whole, were unaware that work is being done currently to restore as much as possible the third floor court room. During the four decades before, the present time, the original room had been compromised in order to put in walls and drop ceilings making the original court room into two and adding different ventilation systems. The two men, with the guidance of a Historic Preservation Plan previously written, are making every effort to restore the room to its original grandeur discovering when removing the drop ceiling that there were skylight systems in the top floor as well as lovely plaster frieze designs near the ceiling and decorative moldings, etc. As the present building is the third one on the site Questers learned that the second building burned even before completion so the present building was made as fireproof as possible in the 1920’s. Even so, current codes have required a new sprinkler system added and the Questers learned that these two managers have made significant effort for the new system not to interfere with the preservation guidelines. The style of the 1922 plan is of Beaux Arts design, one of only a handful of courthouses in the state of South Dakota in that style. Marilyn Fransen Past President Rushmore Memories #1147 Picture title: Questers from Rushmore Memories sitting on an original bench at Pennington County Courthouse. Seated left to right: Kathy Rick, Delores Fisher (President), Kay Martin, Nancy Gowen, Audrey Hamm, Sharon Menzel, Barb Culey, Gloria Swenson, Sandy Martin, Jeannette Hill, Kay Wingert, and Marilyn Fransen.

Queen City #1492, Spearfish, SD enjoyed visiting the High Plains Western Heritage Center in Spearfish for our February meeting. High Plains Western Heritage Center features five-State Regional Museum founded to honor Old West Pioneers and the American Indians of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Western Artifacts, Western Art and Family History Displays are used as a determinant of Historical Events. The Center features 20,000 square feet of displays honoring the Native American, cattle and sheep industries, natural history, mining, forestry and of course ranching and rodeo. Host for the visit were Chris and Belva Anderson with nine members and one guest attending. Cutline: Spearfish Questers checked out the Spearfish to Deadwood Stage Coachon their visit to the High Plains Western Heritage Center: Front row—Shirley Ashley, Belva Anderson. Back row—Nicole Kidman, Chris Anderson,Willie Kunerth, Maridel Sprenger, Julie Chapman, Lois Anderfuren, Ellen Osloond, Keith Chapman Bill Kunerth.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Chapter of Yankton celebrated the beginning of summer at a June "Garden Party" at the home of Nancy Kunkel. Tables adorned with vintage tablecloths and summer flowers were set up on the lawn overlooking Lewis and Clark Reservoir. We combined our meeting with a delicious fundraiser. Members brought lunches in clever vintage containers then drew numbers to select their lunch. After donating toward the fundraiser, we enjoyed our summer lunch and went home with a fun new antique. It all made for a perfect summer day with friends. LAURA INGALLS WILDER CHAPTER GETS BASKET RAEDY FOR STATE CONVENTION Picture on Right: L-R Virgene Ryan, Sheryl Dykes, Mary Jane Malthesen, Linda Kollars, Janette Marker

Picture on Left: L-R, Virgene Ryan, Sheryl Dykes, Mary Jane Malthesen, Janette Marker, Mary Albrecht.

Three P&R Projects were funded at the 2013 Convention in Yankton. $2,900 was awarded to Dacotahs #971 for the replacement of the roof on the Rutland Depot/Train Station. The depot is on the grounds of the Sioux Empire Fair in "Pioneer

Lane." Rutland was the center of the railroad line which ran between Sioux Falls and Watertown. Passenger service was available until 1950 and freight until 1961. Completion of the roof is scheduled for next summer. The buildings in pioneer lane are: an old church, an original log home, an old school and the Rutland Depot. Tours are available for these building during the Sioux Empire Fair. As the "town" grows it is hoped that these building will be available for touring at other times. "Pioneer Lane" is administered by the Minnehaha County Century Fund

$2,900 was awarded to Stanage #612 for the continuation of the rehabilitation Project for the Mead Building in Yankton County.

Yankton County Historical Society is continuing to "rehab" the Mead Building. The roof has been replaced and now work will begin on restoring and repairing exterior masonry and window restoration. The Mead Building built in 1909. was used to house female mentally ill patients. Dr. Meade believed that patients would do better in "ideal surroundings and nature." Dr. Meade designed the building. It includes a grand marble staircase, four parlors, and third floor balcony. When finished the building will house the collections from the Dakota Territorial Museum. $2,900 was awarded to Rushmore Memories #1147 for the completion of weather proofing the "Pap" Madison cabin. Work to be completed the end of April 2014.

The cabin is the oldest building in Rapid City, dating back to 1876. The cabin was moved from its original site, corner of 5th. and Rapid Street to Halley Park. While there it was used as a museum, but was closed due to vandalism. It then became a storage shed for the Parks Department. The building was moved to the Journey Museum in April 2012. When weather tight the building will then become a living history museum

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2013 CONVENTION IN YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA South Dakota State Quester Convention May 31-June1, 2013 The 30th annual South Dakota State Questers convention was held in Yankton on May 31-June1, 2013. Hostesses for the convention were members of Arikara Chapter #419. The convention was held in the historic Excelsior Mill which was erected in 1872 by one of Yankton’s early entrepreneurs, Downer T. Bramble. International President, Jeanne Stokebrand attended from Bella Vista, Arkansas. She met with the State Board during their executive session and spoke to the general assembly during Saturday’s luncheon. Registration and a lovely Victorian tea was held at the GAR Hall. Tours were available to the Mead Building, the Cramer-Kenyon House, the Meridian Bridge and the sculpture walk. Friday night’s dinner was held at the historic Excelsior Mill. Speaker for the dinner was Bev Schuetz from St. Louis, MO. Her topic was “Medical Quackery and Colorful Charlatons”. Bev is a good friend of Arikara member Karen Harmelink who was instrumental in bringing us this most interesting speaker. 77 people were in attendance for a delicious prime rib dinner at the Mill. Beautiful table centerpieces were made from pieces of tile recovered from the Mead building roof restoration project. Jan Jans and Betty Cox were the creative forces behind these pieces of history. The centerpieces were sold at the end of convention netting $307.00. Saturday the State Board held the annual meeting. South Dakota State President Patty Kratochvil conducted the meeting. Following the meeting two seminars were held. The first on “Historic Yankton” presented by Lois Varvel. The second seminar, “Grave Walk” was presented by Anne Swift. Both seminars were well received. A luncheon was held at the Excelsior Mill with 67 members in attendance. During this time, International President Stokebrand brought greetings from the International Questers. The newly elected State officers were installed. There was also a basket auction to benefit the State President’s fund. 6 chapters had sent $50.00 in lieu of baskets. The basket auction netted $856.00 with total monies raised for the President’s travel fund at $1,156.00. A drawing of raffle items sold to benefit the State Preservation and Restoration fund was also held. The raffle tickets sold netted $1,122.00. The winner of the mantle clock was Ethelle Bean of Prairie Pasque Chapter in Madison, SD. Winner of the beautiful Carpodimonte Porcelain centerpiece was Joyce Goodrich of Yellow Brick Road Chapter of Aberdeen, SD. This convention could not have been successful without the hard work and dedication of all the Arikara Questers #419. A huge thank you to everyone who helped in any way. It takes a Village.

Picture highlights of 2013 SD Questers State Convention

Lori Ibarolle introduces Jeannie Storksbard, International President at the Excelleris Mills, in Yankton, SD.

Lori Ibarolle, Sheryl Dykes with International Questers President Jeannie

Ann Swift directing the guests on the grave yard presentation

Josette Knoff is pictured showing off her excitement of the baskets at the state convention.

Registration at the 2013 SD State Convention in Yankton, SD. Registration at the beautiful GAR Hall.

Betty Cox, Jan Jans and De Carlson greet the guests the travel weary guests with beverages and refreshments.

SD QUESTE RS EXECUTI VE BD STATE PRESIDE NT Patty Kratochvil FIRST VICE PRESIDE NT Jeanne Collison SECOND VICE PRESIDE NT Ann Swift TREASU RER Maureen Sage RECORDI NG SECRETA RY Marilyn Fransen CORREP ONDING SECRETA RY Lyla Bultema STATE TELLER Sharon Christense n PARLIA MENTAR IAN Char Alverson HISTORI AN Gwen Larson NEWLET TER EDITOR Dawn Stoner

Stange Chapter members were informed and moved by a touching story of a quest and find. In true Quester fashion a member of Stanage Chapter was inspired by her sister to find the Homer Laughlin dishes their Mother had when they were growing up. With only one treasured plate left from her mother's set and the only pattern name available to go by the sister set off in hot pursuit. Being an avid Goodwill shopper she knew she had seen these or some similar. Upon returning to the store, there, in a box, was nearly a complete service setting for 8 with numerous serving pieces. Sharing this find brought joy and tears to the members. Since then, the dishes have graced the dining room table in all their glory while memories of their Mother are served up with each dish. Members of the Stanage Chapter also took a road trip to Okoboji via Orange City Ia. After driving around the quaint Dutch community we visited the local bakery, ate wonderful fresh baked goods and conversed with some of the locals. After our treats, we made it to Okoboji and found many treasures as we visited numerous antique stores. Staying over night gave us another day to shop and the “quest” proved to be well worth the trip! In recapping our trip many thought a return trip to Orange City would definitely be in our future. Picture front to back left side: Donna Ellis, Kay James and Lori Rembold. Right side front to back: Dawn Stoner, Kathie Gerstner and Jeanne Collison.

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR International has been encouraging Quester members to do their newsletters on the web to save money on the publication. However I felt SD needed time to make the transition. Unfortunately I ran into a family crisis when my daughter, who lives outside of Atlanta, GA., was diagnosed in February with Leukemia (AML). At the time of this writing I am still in Atlanta. It is for this reason, this edition of the RNF will only be available on the web and no hard copies will be printed or mailed. I am hoping this will work well and become the way news will be available in SD. As you can see it is much larger, more information and above all---the pictures are in color. I would appreciate hearing from each chapter on what your members feel about this method in the future. I like what this allows me to do to broaden our states information for all to enjoy. This edition has no convention registration forms or in depth convention information but again if this is the way you will be receiving the RNF you would be able to download the forms from the web in the future. I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, enjoy as it is going fast. If my daughter continues with her treatment, it is my intentions to return to SD by November 1. Dawn Stoner, Editor RNF