The following essay about the founding members of Delta Chapter, Alpha Chi State, was found in paperwork belonging to Delta Chapter. The only additions were the dates of the founding members births and deaths.
In October, 1952, Delta Chapter of Alpha Chi State, Delta Kappa Gamma was formed. Alpha Chapter of Reno presented the eight members with the charter, and the first initiation was held. The new members were Gertrude Badt, Pauline Betterton, Alpha Fifer, Alice Finch, Ann Gibbs, Madeline Gibson, Nellie Laird, and Mary Watson. Alpha Fifer was the first president of this chapter.
Gertrude Badt (1895 - 1981) was the sixth president of Delta Chapter. She was the wife of Justice Milton Badt of the Nevada Supreme Court. She met Milton when she was a high school teacher in Elko. Gertrude was a linguist, speaking French, German, and Latin. When she and her husband moved to Carson City, she first tutored in languages but when the high school needed a French teacher, she accepted the position. However, whenever a qualified teacher was found, she gave up her post. She was in and out of the high school for many years as a substitute teacher of English, the languages, and math. Gertrude wrote a biography of her late husband and authored a retirement planning manual for the State of Nevada. After Gertrude's husband died, she moved to New Jersey to be near her son and daughter. While in New Jersey, she was a language instructor at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. She was involved in Girl Scouts, Little Theater, the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, PEO Sisterhood and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She was listed in the first edition of Who's Who Among American Women.
Pauline Betterton (1896-1990) was originally from Georgia. She was a musically talented person who became the church organist when she was about eleven. She studied piano with a private teacher in LaGrange, Georgia and also attended LaGrange College where she had additional piano instruction. In 1925, Pauline entered junior college in Arkansas by the way of an intelligence test because she had never had high school work. In 1928, she taught elementary school in Troup County, Georgia. She also taught in Florida. Pauline took the teacher's examination at Orlando, Florida, in 1931 for a position in the U.S. Indian Service. On September 1, 1931, Pauline arrived at Stewart Indian School at Stewart, Nevada, to teach sixth grade. In 1935, she was transferred to Warm Springs, Oregon to teach Indians on an Indian reservation. She was again transferred back to Stewart in 1945 where she remained until 1958 when she retired and returned to Florida. In 1959, Pauline began teaching the Exceptional Child Program in Volusia County, Florida. She remained in this position until 1964 when she again retired. In 1973, she returned to LaGrange where she kept busy with the United Methodist women, the hospital auxiliary, Retired Teachers, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Kappa Iota. In 1934 Pauline began working toward her degree at San Francisco State College. She graduated from there in 1939. She also attended several Indian Service summer sessions in addition to attending Stetson University, San Jose State, and Florida State University in the summers.
Alpha Fifer (1895-1977) taught school in Carson City, teaching science in seventh and eighth grades. She was an outstanding teacher who did many science-connected adventures with her classes. She at one time took a small group of students on an excursion into Mexico. After her retirement, Alpha taught at Piny Ridge, the ethnic school near Jackson, Mississippi. She later taught in Appalacia. She traveled to Lebanon and to Jordan and applied for an exchange teaching position in Beirut. Because of physical problems, she was not accepted for this position. Her enthusiasm and sense of humor was a delightful characteristic of hers. Alpha was the first president of Delta Chapter. She was also a very active member of the American Association of University Women, serving as one of the presidents.
Alice Finch (1895-1971) was a Dean of Girls at Stewart Indian School. She was a fine administrator at the school. She was one of the persons involved in the move to form a chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma in the Carson City area. She held many state offices. Among them was State President of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Ann (Anne) Gibbs ( 1915-2006) taught in Fallon. She was unable to be an active member for long in Delta Chapter because of family problems in Fallon. When in Fallon, she became Ann Berlin. Ann Gibbs graduated from the University of Nevada in 1937. She then taught school in McGill, Nevada for a year and a half. After returning to Fallon, she taught English at the high school until she retired in 1970. After retiring, Ann did substituting and for three years taught English 101 and 102 for the community college. This was the most pleasant time of her teaching as she felt everyone who was in class was there because he/she wanted to be. Ann was also past president of the Fallon Retired Teachers Association and was very active in community activities.
Madeline Gibson (1902-1967), the third president of Delta, was the wife of a state highway engineer, and she and her family had been stationed in various parts of Nevada. Her teaching position before coming to Carson City had been in Ely, Nevada. She was appointed as principal of Mildred Bray Elementary School, called the Blue School.
Nellie Laird (1902-1995) first taught school in Eureka, Nevada, upon her graduation from the University of Nevada. During the Depression she lost this job but took a teaching position on the Jacobsen Ranch north of Eureka. While in Eureka, Nellie assisted in the opening of a reading room in the back of the Masonic Hall. She did adult teaching for the Red Cross and for the University Extension Service. In 1935, Nellie opened a school in the mountains of Eureka for the mining people. She was in charge of this school for two years. The state had furnished $500 to open this school. After returning from Tracy, California, she taught at the Bailey Ranch, 30 miles north of Eureka. When she moved back to Eureka, she taught science and home economics at the high school. Nellie returned to Tracy where she taught at the high school. Returning to Nevada, she lived in Virginia City and commuted from Virginia City to Carson City where she taught home economics and physical education. During this time, Nellie was an active participant in the formation of the State Classroom Teachers Association. Nellie retired from teaching in Carson City in 1963. After this time, Nellie worked in the State Library, Stewart Indian School, and Carson City schools as a substitute. She bcame an active member of the American Association of Retired Persons and became the second president of Carson City Chapter 723. She also served as president of the Carson City unit of the Retired Teachers Association. Nellie was a past chairman of the Nevada Joint State Legislative Committee, served on the advisory committee of the Nevada State Library, represented the rural counties and aging population, did legal aide work for the aging services and worked with the committee to secure the Carson City Senior Citizens Center. She also contributed to the Pioneer Women of Nevada and Inside Nevada's Schools, A Challenge for the Future.
Mary Watson, the second president of Delta Chapter, had been a transfer from out of state to Alpha Chapter in Reno before becoming a member of Delta. She was a teacher in Gardnerville and in Yerington. Because of health problems of her husband, Mary finally had to withdraw from Delta.
Thus it was in October, 1952, that Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma was formed.
Updated 08/12/24
In October, 1952, Delta Chapter of Alpha Chi State, Delta Kappa Gamma was formed. Alpha Chapter of Reno presented the eight members with the charter, and the first initiation was held. The new members were Gertrude Badt, Pauline Betterton, Alpha Fifer, Alice Finch, Ann Gibbs, Madeline Gibson, Nellie Laird, and Mary Watson. Alpha Fifer was the first president of this chapter.
Gertrude Badt (1895 - 1981) was the sixth president of Delta Chapter. She was the wife of Justice Milton Badt of the Nevada Supreme Court. She met Milton when she was a high school teacher in Elko. Gertrude was a linguist, speaking French, German, and Latin. When she and her husband moved to Carson City, she first tutored in languages but when the high school needed a French teacher, she accepted the position. However, whenever a qualified teacher was found, she gave up her post. She was in and out of the high school for many years as a substitute teacher of English, the languages, and math. Gertrude wrote a biography of her late husband and authored a retirement planning manual for the State of Nevada. After Gertrude's husband died, she moved to New Jersey to be near her son and daughter. While in New Jersey, she was a language instructor at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. She was involved in Girl Scouts, Little Theater, the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, PEO Sisterhood and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She was listed in the first edition of Who's Who Among American Women.
Pauline Betterton (1896-1990) was originally from Georgia. She was a musically talented person who became the church organist when she was about eleven. She studied piano with a private teacher in LaGrange, Georgia and also attended LaGrange College where she had additional piano instruction. In 1925, Pauline entered junior college in Arkansas by the way of an intelligence test because she had never had high school work. In 1928, she taught elementary school in Troup County, Georgia. She also taught in Florida. Pauline took the teacher's examination at Orlando, Florida, in 1931 for a position in the U.S. Indian Service. On September 1, 1931, Pauline arrived at Stewart Indian School at Stewart, Nevada, to teach sixth grade. In 1935, she was transferred to Warm Springs, Oregon to teach Indians on an Indian reservation. She was again transferred back to Stewart in 1945 where she remained until 1958 when she retired and returned to Florida. In 1959, Pauline began teaching the Exceptional Child Program in Volusia County, Florida. She remained in this position until 1964 when she again retired. In 1973, she returned to LaGrange where she kept busy with the United Methodist women, the hospital auxiliary, Retired Teachers, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Kappa Iota. In 1934 Pauline began working toward her degree at San Francisco State College. She graduated from there in 1939. She also attended several Indian Service summer sessions in addition to attending Stetson University, San Jose State, and Florida State University in the summers.
Alpha Fifer (1895-1977) taught school in Carson City, teaching science in seventh and eighth grades. She was an outstanding teacher who did many science-connected adventures with her classes. She at one time took a small group of students on an excursion into Mexico. After her retirement, Alpha taught at Piny Ridge, the ethnic school near Jackson, Mississippi. She later taught in Appalacia. She traveled to Lebanon and to Jordan and applied for an exchange teaching position in Beirut. Because of physical problems, she was not accepted for this position. Her enthusiasm and sense of humor was a delightful characteristic of hers. Alpha was the first president of Delta Chapter. She was also a very active member of the American Association of University Women, serving as one of the presidents.
Alice Finch (1895-1971) was a Dean of Girls at Stewart Indian School. She was a fine administrator at the school. She was one of the persons involved in the move to form a chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma in the Carson City area. She held many state offices. Among them was State President of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Ann (Anne) Gibbs ( 1915-2006) taught in Fallon. She was unable to be an active member for long in Delta Chapter because of family problems in Fallon. When in Fallon, she became Ann Berlin. Ann Gibbs graduated from the University of Nevada in 1937. She then taught school in McGill, Nevada for a year and a half. After returning to Fallon, she taught English at the high school until she retired in 1970. After retiring, Ann did substituting and for three years taught English 101 and 102 for the community college. This was the most pleasant time of her teaching as she felt everyone who was in class was there because he/she wanted to be. Ann was also past president of the Fallon Retired Teachers Association and was very active in community activities.
Madeline Gibson (1902-1967), the third president of Delta, was the wife of a state highway engineer, and she and her family had been stationed in various parts of Nevada. Her teaching position before coming to Carson City had been in Ely, Nevada. She was appointed as principal of Mildred Bray Elementary School, called the Blue School.
Nellie Laird (1902-1995) first taught school in Eureka, Nevada, upon her graduation from the University of Nevada. During the Depression she lost this job but took a teaching position on the Jacobsen Ranch north of Eureka. While in Eureka, Nellie assisted in the opening of a reading room in the back of the Masonic Hall. She did adult teaching for the Red Cross and for the University Extension Service. In 1935, Nellie opened a school in the mountains of Eureka for the mining people. She was in charge of this school for two years. The state had furnished $500 to open this school. After returning from Tracy, California, she taught at the Bailey Ranch, 30 miles north of Eureka. When she moved back to Eureka, she taught science and home economics at the high school. Nellie returned to Tracy where she taught at the high school. Returning to Nevada, she lived in Virginia City and commuted from Virginia City to Carson City where she taught home economics and physical education. During this time, Nellie was an active participant in the formation of the State Classroom Teachers Association. Nellie retired from teaching in Carson City in 1963. After this time, Nellie worked in the State Library, Stewart Indian School, and Carson City schools as a substitute. She bcame an active member of the American Association of Retired Persons and became the second president of Carson City Chapter 723. She also served as president of the Carson City unit of the Retired Teachers Association. Nellie was a past chairman of the Nevada Joint State Legislative Committee, served on the advisory committee of the Nevada State Library, represented the rural counties and aging population, did legal aide work for the aging services and worked with the committee to secure the Carson City Senior Citizens Center. She also contributed to the Pioneer Women of Nevada and Inside Nevada's Schools, A Challenge for the Future.
Mary Watson, the second president of Delta Chapter, had been a transfer from out of state to Alpha Chapter in Reno before becoming a member of Delta. She was a teacher in Gardnerville and in Yerington. Because of health problems of her husband, Mary finally had to withdraw from Delta.
Thus it was in October, 1952, that Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma was formed.
Updated 08/12/24