Orin W. Elder graduated from Red Cloud, Nebraska high school in 1946. He was only 17 years old when he began teaching that fall at the one-room school District No. 3 in Webster County. He continued to live with his parents on their farm south of Inavale and rode his horse to the schoolhouse. On the last day of the school year, he loaded all of his students in one truck and took them to Red Cloud for a picnic in the city park.
In 1947, he married Mary Lou Dick, one-room school teacher, in Fairview, in Smith County, Kansas. He took the position of substitute teaching at Oriole School in Smith County in 1948. In 1949, he taught at the one-room school, Stuart, also in northern Kansas. The following year Orin’s father became ill so he took over farming for his parents. In 1953, he taught at the one-room school, Johnson, in Smith County for one month. His wife Mary Lou, then took over teaching while Orin continued to farm.
Orin believed teaching was a highly regarded profession and that teachers were to be respected. Following many years as an inspector for the Bureau of Reclamation on major dam projects, he spent several years substitute teaching in Smith Center, Kansas and was well regarded for his abilities to teach whatever subject was needed. He also drove the school bus and farmed during this time. Orin was very proud of his time teaching and regarded it as a highlight of his life.
Mary Lou Elder graduated from Lebanon, Kansas high school in May 1946. She taught the next year at the one-room school, Fairview, north of Lebanon. One common practice was to challenge other schools to sporting events, so her school and one other challenged Orin’s school to a softball game. Fairview school closed that fall so Mary Lou started teaching at the next school west of there. During the next two years, she taught at the one-room school, Stuart, in Kansas. In 1951-52, she taught in Webster County, Nebraska District No. 69. She had to travel rough country roads to get to school and often had to take a tractor when roads were snow-covered or muddy. The next three years she taught at Johnson School in Smith County except for the first month when her oldest daughter was born.
Mary Lou continued to teach in Kansas for more than 20 years, spending at least one more year teaching at a one-room school near the Nebraska state line. She taught elementary grades until transitioning to the nursing profession. She was a registered nurse, but teaching was her profession. She finished her career teaching nursing at Mary Lanning School of Nursing in Hastings and Central Community College in Grand Island. Her former students would often greet her and tell others how much they loved her classes and how very much they learned from her. She continued to teach nursing until she retired at the age of 75.
In 1947, he married Mary Lou Dick, one-room school teacher, in Fairview, in Smith County, Kansas. He took the position of substitute teaching at Oriole School in Smith County in 1948. In 1949, he taught at the one-room school, Stuart, also in northern Kansas. The following year Orin’s father became ill so he took over farming for his parents. In 1953, he taught at the one-room school, Johnson, in Smith County for one month. His wife Mary Lou, then took over teaching while Orin continued to farm.
Orin believed teaching was a highly regarded profession and that teachers were to be respected. Following many years as an inspector for the Bureau of Reclamation on major dam projects, he spent several years substitute teaching in Smith Center, Kansas and was well regarded for his abilities to teach whatever subject was needed. He also drove the school bus and farmed during this time. Orin was very proud of his time teaching and regarded it as a highlight of his life.
Mary Lou Elder graduated from Lebanon, Kansas high school in May 1946. She taught the next year at the one-room school, Fairview, north of Lebanon. One common practice was to challenge other schools to sporting events, so her school and one other challenged Orin’s school to a softball game. Fairview school closed that fall so Mary Lou started teaching at the next school west of there. During the next two years, she taught at the one-room school, Stuart, in Kansas. In 1951-52, she taught in Webster County, Nebraska District No. 69. She had to travel rough country roads to get to school and often had to take a tractor when roads were snow-covered or muddy. The next three years she taught at Johnson School in Smith County except for the first month when her oldest daughter was born.
Mary Lou continued to teach in Kansas for more than 20 years, spending at least one more year teaching at a one-room school near the Nebraska state line. She taught elementary grades until transitioning to the nursing profession. She was a registered nurse, but teaching was her profession. She finished her career teaching nursing at Mary Lanning School of Nursing in Hastings and Central Community College in Grand Island. Her former students would often greet her and tell others how much they loved her classes and how very much they learned from her. She continued to teach nursing until she retired at the age of 75.