Pioneer Daughters - June 1941. Top Row, Left to Right: Hilma Olson Lybeck, Evelyn Monson Melhouse, Gertrude Bergen, Marie Ramseth Brown. Ida Moe Berger, Zoe Wylie Hamilton, Julia Myhre Seanson, Julia Ramseth Peake, Unknown, Sally Krug, Kathleen Sheehan Korsmo, Esther Emery Martin, Eleanor Smith, Oleanna Opperud Evenson, Harriet Smith Kenly, Jennie Wedin Westergaard, Anna Larson, Mary Winkler Heiling, Mary Loendort Grey, Bessie Marsh Grasswick. Second Row: Hazel Belle Nielsen, Myrtle Bjerke Monson, Sophie Framer Passmel, Frances Starke Clancy, Clara Huber Zaun, Laving Crandell Bignall, Bina Brady Kelly, Margaret Seward Levey, Nettie Tolstad Climie, Anna Lee Hogstad, Mae Stee Sad, Bertina Barden Heckel, Maude Miller Mclssac. Daisy McPherson Noxon, Nettie Nelson, Ruth Cooper Otlinger, Unknown. Third Row: Fay Stillings Shaw, Pearl Critchfield Krug, Hazel Hennesey Davis, Jessie Codding Froysaa, Kate Loendort Monson, Louise Guilden Simenson, Lena Cook Starke, Unknown, Unknown, Nettie King Brudevold, Clara Olson Chulse, Mrs. D. W. Clark, Jessie Stearns Ecker, Hilda Lee, Unknown, Bertha Pray Laird, Mabel Campbell Finkenhagen, Dora Large, Ruth Butterfield Davis. Fourth Row: Mary Beaty Carlton, Evelyn Gaylord Atherton, Margaret Sandy Shearer, Gertrude Starke, Hattie McPherson Heimes, Leona Noecker Luessen, Mable Milton Norris, Carolyn Tyrell Cooper. Fifth Row: Christina Peterson Mortenson, Elizabeth Clark Worley, Clara Bush Krug, Florence Noxon Elstrom, Minnie J. Nielsen, Dena Nelson Johnson.
The Valley City Chapter of the Pioneer Daughters was organized on April 3, 1934. This first meeting was held by lantern light in the first Court House in Barnes County, then used as a garage. Under the dim light of the lanterns, the following officers were elected: Carolyn Cooper, President; Bina B. Kelly, First Vice-Pres.; Blanche K. Crowthers, Second Vice-Pres.; Dorothy H. Pfusch, Recording Secretary; Hattie McP. Heimes, Treasurer and Jessie G. Caldwell, Historian.
An imposing list of historical projects have been carried on by this organization. Among the most notable are the compilation and printing of a Historical Calendar of the settlers of Barnes County from 1872 through 1939; a Historical Cookbook compiled and printed in 1944 containing the tried and true recipes of the club members; Historical Tours of the historical spots in the county conducted by the most knowledgeable people such as Major Dana Wright and Roy Johnson of the Fargo Forum; a testimonial dinner in honor of Miss Minnie Nielson on June 14, 1951 for her service to the city, county and state. A pioneer museum was set up in a vacant store and manned for several days during the Diamond Jubilee in 1958 in Valley City, drawing huge crowds to see the pioneer way of life.
Forty years of activity by this organization has not dimmed the enthusiasm of its members despite a change of personnel and regular meetings are held to plan for new projects.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 328