Seven honored for being part of past, present and future of Douglas County

by Sharlene Irete

People Editor

Seven women nominated for contributing to the quality of life in Douglas County will be honored in a reception for the 2009 Douglas County Historical Society's Women in History Award, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 1477 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

This year's nominees will be added to the 83 women who have been included in the historical society's remembering project since 2000. The women were nominated by relatives, friends and co-workers for their efforts in contributing to the community and are recognized for their qualities that epitomize a woman in Douglas County.

Honorees for 2009:

n Mattie Jepsen, 1873-1944. "Mattie was not a headliner, rather she was one of those unsung heroes of the home front," is how Mattie Jepsen was described. She was wife of Hans Christian Jepsen, who was Douglas County clerk from 1900-23.

n Freida Sarman Pitts, 1906-1991. Freida Pitts turned her living room and bedroom into a maternity home in 1943 and operated it until 1954 when state requirements made it necessary for babies to be born at registered hospitals. There were 159 babies born in the maternity home with no deaths.

n Deborah Byers, 1944-2006, was known for her work as the second director of the Carson Valley Museum, painting faces at the East Fork Gallery's scarecrow festival, acting in the museum's production of "Return to Whistlestop," and portraying her grandmother Augusta Hellwinkel in the Ghost Walk at the Garden Cemetery.

n Cindy McIntosh died in 2007. She was involved with children, music and various projects at Carson Valley United Methodist Church, Carson Valley Community Food Closet and Trick or Treat Safety Street.

n Luetta Bergevin grew up in Gardnerville, and was a nurse during World War II, was the head nurse and obstetrics supervisor at Washoe Medical Center in Reno and worked at Carson-Tahoe Hospital. She volunteered to give the first polio shots in Carson Valley.

Bergevin was active in the East Fork Gallery, Douglas County Republican Women's Club, Carson Valley Literary Club, has been on the Douglas County Historical Society Board of Trustees and was president of the Nevada State CowBelles.

n Grace Bower has been involved as a volunteer in the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, in children's reading programs, with the Douglas Animal Welfare Group and the historical society. She is recognized for her work as president of the Douglas County Historical Society " writing grants for funding, organizing museum fundraising events and inspiring the formation of the Young Chautauqua program.

n Sue Smith is a relative newcomer to Carson Valley but has been recognized for supporting the historical society by producing, directing and performing in museum melodramas and organizing the monthly lecture series at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center.