Gertrude L. Caveny (1898-1932) was born at Wood River, NE. where her parents farmed and raised cattle. After graduating from Wood River, she attended Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney and began teaching 6th and 7th grade in Hall County, District #44. Her younger sister joined her in teaching and in 1922, where, according to the Wood River Sunbeam, the “Misses Gertrude and Florence Caveny along with Martha Crothers who have had charge of the schools in Districts 44 and 25 for the past year gave a breakfast for 7th and 8th grade pupils at the Caveny home.” Teaching was a calling for Gertrude. Her lessons often extended beyond the classroom. In 1923, Gertrude hosted about 50 school children in the Caveny home for a luncheon and card games. This all-day social outing ended with prizes and life-lessons her students would carry with them as they became part of a larger community. Gertrude dedicated her life to teaching for 10 years, teaching in rural Nebraska schools until she fell ill and died in 1932.