Page 4 | SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
Historical women from front “In order for men to go out and make the news and fight in wars, there had to be somebody behind the scenes supporting the system,” Ostby said. “There were a lot of women out there that did it humbly, did it quietly, and not because they couldn’t do something different.” To Ostby, an important part of women’s rights is about telling their stories and elevating their role in history. She said it helps put women’s plight for equal rights in perspective, though society has work to do to get there. Whether it was women taking care of families and homes while their husbands were working or in military service, running the farm or taking up factory jobs during wartime to keep up with the military’s need, women were primary drivers for family and community wellbeing. “The introduction of women’s history to society allows society to get a better perception, and it allows people to decide where there’s room for improvement,” Ostby said. In Benton County, women like Louise DeMarais of Sauk Rapids helped shape the community into what it is today, but not from a
prominent governing position or from the chair of a multinational business. She was a single mom in charge of 16 kids on a 1980s farm. Her husband died earlier than expected, so she had to do it alone. Aside from raising 16 kids, she was an avid community volunteer. She felt she lived an ordinary life – one of service to her family and peers – but it was anything but ordinary. She won the historical society’s Women in History award in 2000 for her contributions to the area. Helen Latterell, a Foley-born historical figure who Ostby called a rule breaker, worked at a local courthouse at a time when women in that role were unheard of. She began her work for Benton County during World War I at the age of 12 because her uncle, the Register of Deeds, needed help at the office after two of his deputies left for war. Eventually, after a time living in St. Paul, her parents’ ill health led her back to Foley, where she served at the Foley courthouse for four years as deputy treasurer and then 28 years as treasurer. There were many prominent women in history who contributed to the women’s rights movement through activism. However, Ostby said, others took on traditional roles that shoved women’s rights – or lack thereof – into the spotlight. It was the
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NEWS
Benton County Women in History Award Recipients The Benton County Historical Society has been recognizing women in the county since 1998. In 2021, they will abstain from selecting recipients, but may schedule an event to recognize the 2020 awardees. Last year’s celebration was postponed and then cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
First name Mildred Mary Elaine Luverne Lola Elizabeth Helen Marlene Joan Louise Marie Margaret Pat Alice Eleanor Leatrice Alice Ruth Annette Marie Alice Elaine Margaret Charlotte Polly Kathleen Lucille Winnie Clarice Ellevina
Last name Benner Burns Fleck Neils Schenk Hayden Latterell Molitor Parent DeMarais Helmin Neary Tarpenning Engelmeyer Gottwalt Teigen Trushenski Gottschalk Legatt Martin Sefkow Balder Braine Fisher-Notch Hoover Chmielewski Chmielewski Doroff Lanz Hansmeier
women who cared for their families, filled in the gaps for their communities, ran the family farm and took on thankless jobs that As women continue to fight for equal leadership and job opportunities, Ostby finds it imperative society continues to shine a light on their prominence, which is why the Benton County Historical Society honors women annually with its Women in History award. “All these women over the years that we’ve honored are all here for a variety of reasons, and the community has dictated their importance of their activities to us,” Ostby said. “They’re so widely represented, whether it’s family life,
Year 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005
First name Doris Betty Clara Luella Nellie Virginia Genevieve Rose Luella Jan Lorane Sharon Dixie Mary Agnes Veronica Marilyn Elizabeth "Libbie" Mary Sue Nancy Marjean Joan Merlin Irene Carole Maxine Eileen Cecil Pat Jan Clara
Last name Stachowski Stob Teff Cave Henry Lewandowski Manea Mechavich Parkins Sorell Walsh Henry Morse Shimota Voight Kaschmitter Levinski Linn Turch Anderson Keehr Neyssen Youso Mersinger Olson Saldana Wade Abfalter Hovda Knettel
career life or government life.” Whenever there was a need in the community, historically speaking,
Year 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012
First name Janis Karen Pat Diane Connie Alfrieda Janice Kathy Sharon Maureen Sally Wendy Janet Dolores (Suzie) Peggy Joyce Char Darlene Katie Mary Theresa Nancy Joyce Linda G. Sharon Joan M. Natasha Brenda Phyllis Marge
women would fill it, and that is often how they gained rights, Ostby said – slowly, but surely. As Ostby looks forward,
Last name Year Brown 2013 Sakry 2013 Spence 2013 Thorsten 2013 Cardinal-Ramberg 2014 Jacquemart 2014 Martin 2014 Schlueter 2014 Beehler 2015 Graber 2015 Grabuski 2015 Wheeler 2015 Abfalter 2016 Bialke 2016 Herman 2016 Notsch 2016 Dhein 2017 Hiscock 2017 McMillan 2017 Chmielewski 2018 Duea 2018 Kampa 2018 Segler 2019 Tenneson 2019 Weitgenant 2019 Weyer 2019 Barber 2020 Hackett 2020 Post 2020 Nierengarten 2020
she wants to ensure future students and researchers understand the role women played from past to present.
Benton County Women in History Junior Honorees The Benton County Historical Society has been selecting junior honorees since 1999, rotating between Foley Public Schools and Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools.
First name Stephanie Christen Meghan Kim Stephanie Alison Heather Margaret Kaitlin Marissa Amanda
Last name Dawn Bauerly Nook Peterson Nietz Thorsness Boelz Latterell Weis Kantor Woolsey
Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
First name Chelsea Emily Kaylee Amanda Nicole Hannah Kim Madison Amelia Emily Lynn Tessa
Last name Lesniak Ackerman Stellmach Schubert Zapf Voight Barthelemy Davis Winkelman Gertken Schumann
Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
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