Obituary Rhoda "Pearl" Rhodes

Rhoda Pearle Rhodes of Exeter was born August 12, 1928, in rural Fillmore County, Nebraska, to Ernest and Edna (Rhoda) Eich. She passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at York General Hearthstone in York, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 6 months and 25 days. As a young girl, Pearle, as she was affectionately known by family and friends, attended Country School District, White Temple #57 near Strang and three years at Shickley High School before graduating with the Class of 1945 from Geneva High School. Following her high school graduation, she worked at JC Penney for four years and then the Fillmore County Farm Program office in Geneva. Pearle was united in marriage to Stanley I. Rhodes on August 12, 1950 at the United Methodist Church in Beaver Crossing where she became a life-long member and supporter. They were blessed with four sons, John, Thomas, Robert and Jody.

Together, Pearle and Stanley farmed from 1950-1990. In addition to being a busy mother and farm wife, Pearle also clerked at auctions with Larson Auctioneers for over forty years. During her 50+ year membership of the Beaver Crossing United Methodist Church, Pearle served her church as Trustees secretary and as president and secretary of the Memorial Committee. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women, the UP-N-ATOM extension club and the West Blue social club. Pearle also was a Den Mother for Cordova Cub Scout Pack 359.

Pearle is survived by her husband, Stanley, Exeter, sons and daughters-in-law, John A Rhodes, Gretna, Thomas E and Diane Rhodes, Lincoln, Robert E Rhodes, Exeter, Jody L. and Lisa Rhodes, Paxton, grandchildren and spouses, Julia (Matthew) Storm, Jordan (Kim) Rhodes, Ryan (Blair) Rhodes, Erica (Rhodes) and Tyler Turner, and Alex Rhodes, great-grandchildren, Graham, Colette and Marin Storm, Rhett Turner, Connor Rhodes, brother-in-law, Daryl Taylor, Cordova, sister-in-law, Betty Geis, Lincoln, nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law, Mary and Raymond Naber, sister-in-law, Shirley Taylor and brother-in-law, Paul Geis.

March Senior Center Activities

Exeter G.F.W.C.Woman's Club Celebrates Nebraska 150th

Exeter G.F.W.C. Woman’s Club members posed for a picture before their birthday celebration for Nebraska.  From the left are:  Amy Emshoff, Karen Chapman, Bonnie Cudaback, Patty DeMoss, Reba Toothman, Judy Dinneen, Agnes Loukota, Marsha Jurgensen, Sharon Mueller and Kathy Due.

The Exeter-Milligan choir performed a very moving rendition of “Beautiful Nebraska” at the 150^th birthday celebration for Nebraska.

Exeter-Milligan eighth graders Jaiden Papik (left) and Daisy Kanode give their part of the Nebraska History presentation.

Above - The Exeter-Milligan eight grade class gave a presentation on the highlights of Nebraska.

Below – The Exeter-Milligan fourth graders shared the reports they did on a famous Nebraskan at the Sesquicentennial celebration.

Above – Judy Dinneen, Exeter G.F.W.C. member (left) introduces Exeter Postmaster Kathy Stych who shared the special U.S. postage stage that was released for the Nebraska Sesquicentennial.

Below – The Exeter G.F.W.C. Woman’s Club honored area Veterans for their part in keeping Nebraska safe.  Here, Karen Chapman, Exeter G.F.W.C. member, presents a gift to veteran Dwayne Luzum.

Doug Rung, of Fairmont, shows a piece of hardtack and explains how it was a food necessity for many during the early Nebraska pioneer days.

Sesquicentennial isn’t easy to pronounce but it certainly is fun to celebrate.

The Exeter G.F.W.C. Woman’s Club made sure that this special anniversary was not forgotten in Exeter on Wednesday, March 1.

This group of ladies planned and carried out a fabulous celebration to honor the 150^th anniversary of the statehood of Nebraska.

After Exeter G.F.W.C. members Karen Chapman and Kathy Due welcomed the audience the Exeter-Milligan choir was introduced and gave a brief history of the state song, “Beautiful Nebraska,” before performing a very moving rendition of the song. 

Next on the program were the Exeter-Milligan eighth graders from Mr. Brian Murphy’s Nebraska history class.  The group had created a power point outline of the history of Nebraska and each student told a part of the story.

The fourth graders from Exeter-Milligan had each researched a famous historical Nebraskan and presented several interesting facts about the men and women they admired.  Some of those the audience heard about were astronaut Clayton Anderson, Father Ed Flanagan and koolaid inventor Edwin Perkins.

The last group of Exeter-Milligan students to share were the second grade.  They had each drawn a picture of a distinctive Nebraska icon, ranging from a covered wagon, to cows and Chimney Rock.

G.F.W.C. member Judy Dinneen introduced Exeter Postmaster Kathy Stych who gave the history behind the stamp that was released specially for Nebraska’s sesquicentennial. The stamp depicts the Sandhill Crane migration at dawn near the Platte River in a photo by Michael Forsberg. The audience was able to see stamp up close during the program.

During the program the Exeter G.F.W.C. members also shared interesting facts about the state’s history.  When sharing about World War II the history of the Great Nebraska Scrap Drive of 1942 was explained.  Apparently, in an effort to collect more scrap iron for the war, Nebraska initiated a scrap drive that pitted county against county.  Fillmore county collected 273 ¾ pounds during the drive and the efforts of Nebraska inspired a nationwide scrap drive.

Along with their discussion of war efforts the Woman’s Club recognized the veteran’s in the audience.

The keynote speaker, Doug Rung, of Fairmont was introduced.  Rung is known throughout the county as a Nebraska and Fillmore County historian.  He shared about the trip he took in covered wagons from Grand Island to Scottsbluff years ago.  “I was the only Nebraskan on the trip. . .we had eight wagons plus a chuckwagon . . .we had three flour sacks, two for good clothes and one for dirty clothes and everything modern was thrown out.”

The group rode or walked in wagons pulled by Clydesdales and according to Rung, “we had a great menu, it was pinto beans, pinto beans and pinto beans.”

Rung was designated the marshal and walked behind all of the wagons to make sure no one fell out or got left behind.  “We had three quit the trip and the wagonmaster said that if it had been in the pioneer days they would have been the ones who died on the trail.”

The group followed the Oregon Trail through Nebraska, ate hardtack for lunch and washed their dishes in the sand.  “We washed with lye soap and had no combs.  We innovated a lot of things.”

During the trip they visited one grave near Kennesaw, that of Susan C. Haile, who died on the trail near modern day Kennesaw.  Rung shared that they learned her husband had buried her and returned to Missouri for a marble headstone which he sold his horses to purchase.  Mr. Haile then procured a wheelbarrow to bring the headstone back to Nebraska to mark his wife’s grave.

Other bits of history the group experienced on the trail included a visit from a Native American who would not sell any of his wares, but only trade.  The group also received letters from their family members via Pony Express.

After Rung presented the Woman’s Club members thanked the many participants in the program and closed with all of the participants singing “Happy Birthday” to Nebraska.

Death Notice: Rhoda "Pearl" Rhodes

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 13, 2017 at the Beaver Crossing United Methodist Church with Rev. Tamara Holtz officiating. Family burial will be held prior to service at the Exeter Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1-6 pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home in Friend with the family greeting relatives and friends from 4-6 pm. Memorials are directed in care of the family.

Exeter-Milligan Fourth Grade Classroom Electrifies

From the left Jayden Capek, Kierra Papik and Aidan Vavra show what they have learned about electricity using snap circuits.

Landen Soice wired together two lights with the skills he learned during the science unit on electricity.

Ayla Kahler is excited about making the bell ring using electricity.

Jaxon Franssen shows off his skills with a wired buzzer in the science unit on electricity.

Emma Meyer learned about how magnets work and put together a truck with special magnets.

The Exeter-Milligan fourth grade class.  Bottom row from the left are:  Jayden Capek, Aidan Vavra and Emma Meyer.  Middle row from the left are: Joleen Vossler, Kierra Papik, Landon Soice, Ayla Kahler, Jaxon Franssen and Mikey Bartu.  Back row is their teacher Mrs. Shelli Mueller.  Missing from the picture are Liberty Johnson and Carter Milton.

The fourth graders work on language on the smart board.  Below, Jayden Capek corrects an error in the paragraph on the smart board.

Mrs. Shelli Mueller helps her fourth grader Landen Soice find an error in the paragraph they are editing during language in the Exeter-Milligan fourth grade classroom. 

The fourth graders are studying Nebraska History and the Oregon Trail.

 Aidan Vavra and Joleen Vossler work on their language lesson after lunch in the Exeter-Milligan fourth grade classroom.

Exeter-Milligan Celebrates Read Across America

Exeter-Milligan celebrated Read Across America Day with a week-long celebration that will culminate on Wednesday.  The students were encouraged to embrace some of the characters Dr. Seuss created in his books. Throughout the week the students wore crazy socks on Monday, dressed like a twin on Tuesday, and wore old hats and new hats on Wednesday.  Thursday, March 2^nd was Dr. Seuss’ birthday and was planned to be a red fish, blue fish day but State Basketball interfered and the activities were rescheduled.

On Tuesday in Milligan the third through sixth graders enjoyed the reading of “One Fish, Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” and then snacked on decorated fish sugar cookies.  Pictured above Thing One (Liberty Johnson) and Thing Two (Emma Meyer) embraced the Seuss’ theme for twin’s day.

Third graders, Jonah Geiger (left) and Brett Kallhoff were sporting their Green Bay Packer gear for twin’s day.

The Exeter-Milligan third through sixth graders gather in the fourth grade room to watch the big screen book of “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” during Read Across America week.

Talk about twinning – Savannah Horne (left) and Savana Krupicka dressed alike and share a first name and below get some cookies from Mrs. Mueller!

Above - Jase Luzum enjoys a sugar cookie during the Read Across America red fish, blue fish celebration.

Below – Trevin Ronne enjoys a sugar cookie during the Read Across America red fish, blue fish celebration.

Exeter-Milligan’s Read Across America celebration culminated with a read-in on Wednesday afternoon.  The 7 – 12^th graders volunteered to read Dr. Seuss books to the elementary during their lunch period.  Each older student chose a Dr. Seuss book and read to a small group of elementary students.  No one is sure who enjoyed the experience more. Above, Samantha Horne picks one of her favorite Dr. Seuss books to read.  Below, Junior Hannah Beethe reads to elementary students (l-r) Chezney Kanode and Boden Graham.

School Counselor Denice Kovanda reads to some elementary students.

Macy Due reads to students in the commons area.

Exeter-Milligan elementary students (l-r) Braxton Saatman, Clayton Pribyl, and Ensley Stahl enjoyed hearing a Dr. Seuss book read by seventh grader Ben Bartu.

Together high school students (l-r) Bailey Steuben, Hannah Horne and Eric Olsen share a special Dr. Seuss book with elementary students.

Above - Seventh grader Briana Capek reads to (l-r) Ava Million, Titus Petersen and Cohen Harre.

Below – Tenth grader Katherine White shares a Dr. Seuss book with (l-r)Levi Jurgensen, Richard Hickman and Cheynne Krupicka.

Above– For twin day, fourth graders Carter Milton (left) and Jaden Capek chose their Milligan gear.

Below – Jolene Vossler (left) and Kierra Papik were twinning right down to their braided hair during the Read Across America celebration.