Laura Goff was a member of the Rebekahs.
Rebekah Creed
I AM A REBEKAH:
I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and the Sisterhood of woman.
I believe in the watch-words of our Order – Friendship, Love and Truth.
Friendship – is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together. Love – is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give, the more you receive. Truth – is the standard by which we value people. It is the foundation of our society.
I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out to my community and the World, for in God’s eyes we are all brothers and sisters.
I AM A REBEKAH!
Earliest membership card Laura saved was when Goffs lived at Dexter. She paid $1.00 dues to the Eva Ann Rebekah Lodge No. 197 I.O.O.F of Dexter Jurisdiction of Iowa on May 10, 1926. Good until May 1, 1927.
It’s interesting that even after Laura moved to Omaha with her sons, she still kept up her membership in Dexter.
After World War II, when her daughter Leora lost three sons and was widowed, they moved Guthrie Center to live together. Guthrie County was where both were born, grew up, and still knew and were related to so many people there. Laura transferred her membership to the Mizpah Rebekah Lodge, No. 92, at Guthrie Center. May 17, 1948. She’s listed as a Past Noble Grand.
Her daughter Leora also joined the Rebekahs at Guthrie Center. I remember attending a meeting as a child. Grandma Leora wore a long white dress and during the meeting, the ladies kind of did a sedate square dance. At least that’s how it seemed to a young girl.
I know that they regularly patched and sewed at the Guthrie County Hospital.
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“Donald took picture on Polaroid Camera
“Guthrie Center Iowa”
Must have been a special meeting for her to be wearing a corsage.
A small bell charm dangles from her watch. It’s the souvenir bell from Capri that her fourth son Danny Wilson bought when he first got to Italy for combat.