After graduating from Adams, Nebraska Phyllis Hefti began her teaching career in a
little, one-room schoolhouse named Lenora Country School. Traveling to and from the
school served as daily exercise for Phyllis, as she pedaled her bicycle up and down the two mile
stretch of gravel roads from her home to the school. There were two children at the Lenora
Country School and Phyllis remembers them both being very good pupils. They also had
plenty of practice at playing ball, as recess time would usually involve a game played between
the two students and Phyllis! She spent two years teaching at this small school outside
Adams during 1944 and 1945.
The next school where Phyllis taught, also in the Adams area, would bring new challenges
and an interesting student demographic. At Pleasant Plain School, Phyllis had the
dutiful task of teaching one girl and ten boys! Although this could seem like a daunting
responsibility, Phyllis remembers the students being a very sharp bunch of students. There
were many programs that were held during her years at Pleasant Plain, and they were always great productions despite the small number of
students. Phyllis spent two years at Pleasant Plain, living in a house next door with another family. Although the bicycle rides were gone,
she still had to arrive early to school to fill the stove with corn to heat the school for the day.
In June of 1948, Phyllis married her high school sweetheart from Adams, Dr. John Finkner. After deciding on a place to live, the
newlyweds loaded up their 1937 Plymouth and headed to Omaha, only to find the place they planned on staying at had already been
rented out. Things eventually worked out and Phyllis found a position at another one room schoolhouse close to the Boys Town area,
District #66. She also enrolled in education classes during the evenings at the University of Omaha, and fondly remembers many
trips over the South Omaha Bridge in the Plymouth.
The Finkners first child, John (Mike), was born after Phyllis taught one year at District #99. After staying home for a year, Phyllis returned to
teaching in a two-room school that was located on L Street in Omaha. Dr. Finkner considers her teaching career a very important part of
their life together as it provided some financial stability as he attended medical school.
The couple eventually settled in Minden, Nebraska where Dr. Finkner practiced as a family physician for many years. Their family
grew with the birth of 3 more children, Zoe Ann, Matthew, and Sara and continues to grow with grandchildren and great grandchildren.
little, one-room schoolhouse named Lenora Country School. Traveling to and from the
school served as daily exercise for Phyllis, as she pedaled her bicycle up and down the two mile
stretch of gravel roads from her home to the school. There were two children at the Lenora
Country School and Phyllis remembers them both being very good pupils. They also had
plenty of practice at playing ball, as recess time would usually involve a game played between
the two students and Phyllis! She spent two years teaching at this small school outside
Adams during 1944 and 1945.
The next school where Phyllis taught, also in the Adams area, would bring new challenges
and an interesting student demographic. At Pleasant Plain School, Phyllis had the
dutiful task of teaching one girl and ten boys! Although this could seem like a daunting
responsibility, Phyllis remembers the students being a very sharp bunch of students. There
were many programs that were held during her years at Pleasant Plain, and they were always great productions despite the small number of
students. Phyllis spent two years at Pleasant Plain, living in a house next door with another family. Although the bicycle rides were gone,
she still had to arrive early to school to fill the stove with corn to heat the school for the day.
In June of 1948, Phyllis married her high school sweetheart from Adams, Dr. John Finkner. After deciding on a place to live, the
newlyweds loaded up their 1937 Plymouth and headed to Omaha, only to find the place they planned on staying at had already been
rented out. Things eventually worked out and Phyllis found a position at another one room schoolhouse close to the Boys Town area,
District #66. She also enrolled in education classes during the evenings at the University of Omaha, and fondly remembers many
trips over the South Omaha Bridge in the Plymouth.
The Finkners first child, John (Mike), was born after Phyllis taught one year at District #99. After staying home for a year, Phyllis returned to
teaching in a two-room school that was located on L Street in Omaha. Dr. Finkner considers her teaching career a very important part of
their life together as it provided some financial stability as he attended medical school.
The couple eventually settled in Minden, Nebraska where Dr. Finkner practiced as a family physician for many years. Their family
grew with the birth of 3 more children, Zoe Ann, Matthew, and Sara and continues to grow with grandchildren and great grandchildren.