Bertha Susan Nelson was born on December 9, 1914, in Bostwick, Nebraska, the fourth of eight children, to her parents, Paul and Cynthia Nelson. Bertha attended grades one through eight at Eureka, District #82, a one-room/one-teacher country school in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, graduating in Spring 1928. Due to limited finances, Bertha deliberately delayed her enrollment at Nelson (Nebraska) High School until Fall 1929. In Fall 1930, Bertha, a high school sophomore, and twin sisters Ruth and Neva, both freshmen, boarded with a local resident in Nelson during the school year. Cynthia, their mother, provided them with food on weekends, and the lady-landlord prepared the school-week meals.
Bertha pursued and completed Normal Training at Nelson High, and the required 17 state examinations in elementary school subject matter, to earn a three-year elementary teacher’s certificate upon high school graduation. Bertha graduated, in a class of 40, from Nelson High School in Spring 1933.
The 1930’s produced an abundance of rural elementary teacher applicants, so Bertha hired out as a housekeeper until securing her first teaching contract in Fall 1935, at District #71, in Webster County, Nebraska. Her monthly salary was $35.00, $315.00 for nine months. In Fall 1936, Bertha signed a contract with Eureka, District #82, her grade school alma mater. She taught at Eureka from 1936-1941. At a March 1939, Spring Meeting of County Teachers, in Nelson, Bertha showcased and demoed a Social Studies Unit. During the 1941-1942 academic year, Bertha taught at Cadams, District #45, in Nuckolls County. On February 7, 1942, Bertha, and Charley M. Hobbs Sr., were married at Quinter, Kansas, by her former Nebraska pastor, Reverend A.J. McFarland. Later that year, they resided in Strang, Nebraska, where Charley managed the Strang Elevator and Lumber Company.
Bertha suspended her teaching career in 1942 until 1944, starting a family, and Charley serving in the US Army, in the European Theatre, during World War II. In 1944-1945, she taught multiple grades at Strang School. She also was Vice-President of the Strang PTA. Following early retirement from full-time teaching, Bertha occasionally was called upon to substitute-teach at Strang School.
Bertha’s sister, Neva, also had taught at Strang, and later served as Principal. Neva recounted and cherished her relationship with her sister Bertha in the 1930’s and 1940’s. For example, in 1936, they pooled their limited teaching salary resources and jointly purchased a new Plymouth automobile. They attended summer school together at Kearney State Teachers College in Summers 1936, and 1940. “Bert and I occupied Room 224 on second floor of Case Hall in summer of ’36,” Neva wrote in her diary.
Bertha Hobbs passed away, unexpectedly, in March 1953. A tree was planted near the Strang School in her memory. Bertha undeniably had a lasting impact on those she taught, those she taught with, and her local community.
Bertha pursued and completed Normal Training at Nelson High, and the required 17 state examinations in elementary school subject matter, to earn a three-year elementary teacher’s certificate upon high school graduation. Bertha graduated, in a class of 40, from Nelson High School in Spring 1933.
The 1930’s produced an abundance of rural elementary teacher applicants, so Bertha hired out as a housekeeper until securing her first teaching contract in Fall 1935, at District #71, in Webster County, Nebraska. Her monthly salary was $35.00, $315.00 for nine months. In Fall 1936, Bertha signed a contract with Eureka, District #82, her grade school alma mater. She taught at Eureka from 1936-1941. At a March 1939, Spring Meeting of County Teachers, in Nelson, Bertha showcased and demoed a Social Studies Unit. During the 1941-1942 academic year, Bertha taught at Cadams, District #45, in Nuckolls County. On February 7, 1942, Bertha, and Charley M. Hobbs Sr., were married at Quinter, Kansas, by her former Nebraska pastor, Reverend A.J. McFarland. Later that year, they resided in Strang, Nebraska, where Charley managed the Strang Elevator and Lumber Company.
Bertha suspended her teaching career in 1942 until 1944, starting a family, and Charley serving in the US Army, in the European Theatre, during World War II. In 1944-1945, she taught multiple grades at Strang School. She also was Vice-President of the Strang PTA. Following early retirement from full-time teaching, Bertha occasionally was called upon to substitute-teach at Strang School.
Bertha’s sister, Neva, also had taught at Strang, and later served as Principal. Neva recounted and cherished her relationship with her sister Bertha in the 1930’s and 1940’s. For example, in 1936, they pooled their limited teaching salary resources and jointly purchased a new Plymouth automobile. They attended summer school together at Kearney State Teachers College in Summers 1936, and 1940. “Bert and I occupied Room 224 on second floor of Case Hall in summer of ’36,” Neva wrote in her diary.
Bertha Hobbs passed away, unexpectedly, in March 1953. A tree was planted near the Strang School in her memory. Bertha undeniably had a lasting impact on those she taught, those she taught with, and her local community.