Person:Alberta West (1)

In 1955, Alberta was honored at a tea celebrating her 80th birthday Fifty friends and relatives attended. Attendees included Mrs Rolland Cohee of Wheaton and Mrs. F.O. Gustafson. The tea was given by her daughter, Mrs. I.E. Swensrud, 562 N. Academy St., Galesburg, IL Alberta has resided with the Swensruds for the last 15 years since the death of Mr. Prall. (from an undated newspaper clipping from The Galesburg Register-Mail)

In 1941 Alberta West receives a card from Emma on the occasion of fifty years since their high school graduation. The card has a drawing of the school and pink and light green ribbons. Below is the following sentiment: "Time may rob us of our treasure Sorrow fill our lives with tears, Still there linger to console us Memories of bygone years." On the back is written: Dear Bertie: Fifty years ago, do you remember? Greetings from an old class-mate. It is signed: Emma H. Jones McKenny. The envelope was postmarked May 6, 1941 from Snoqualmie, Wash.

OBITUARY: Mrs. Walter Prall (Galesburg Register Mail, Feb. 28, 1962) "Mrs. Walter Prall, 87, died Wednesday at her home, 562 N. Academy St. Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Hinchcliff and Pearson Funeral kChapel, where friends may call Friday evening. Burial will be in Maquon Cemetery. The former Alberta West was born Feb. 6, 1875, a Maquon. She was a graduate of Dixon College at Dixon and attended Knox College. She was married at Maquon Aug. 26, 1897, to Walter Prall, who died in June 1940. She had lived in Galesburg for 21 years and prior to that had lived in Iowa and North Dakota. She was a member of First Christian Church here. Surviving are two children, Philemon Walter Prall of Auburndale, Fla., and Mrs. I. E. Swensrud of Galesburg; three sisters, Mrs. Winifred W. Wick of Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. E. J. Norton of Middletown, Ohio, and Mrs. F. O. Gustafson of Galesburg, and a granddaughter, Mary Barbara Swensrud."

Pythian Sisters: See the picture in the scrapbook of something Bertie was given when she became a member of the Bertie Lenore Temple No. 10 in Maqon on Jan 30, 1897. This is also the year she married. There is no evidence she continued this membership later. This organization is women's affiliate of the Knights of Pythias.

Recipe from the Maquon Cook Book, first pub. 1905 by the Maquon Ladies Cemetery Assn, Barbara McCoy copy, p. 2. (This copy is very worn and I suggest that Grandma used it often.) FRENCH ROLLS Two cups of light dough, one tablespoonful of sugar, two tablespoonsful of melted butter, one egg; roll then, cut small squares of butter and lap over; let them raise and bake in a quick oven. -- Mrs. W. Prall