Alpha Xi Delta - University of South Dakota

page 3 Alpha Xi Delta year's Dakotathon (formerly Dance Marathon). Founder's Day was held on April 7, with 14 alumnae attending. Ava Feller '18, Nicole Grave '18, Kiara Harkema '17, and Brenna Mullen '18 with their mothers at Mom's Day. Celebrating 80 Years as an Alpha Xi Delta Spotlight on Barbara Shafer Kraemer '39 B arbara Shafer Kraemer '39 will celebrate her 100th birthday on October 23, 2019, almost 80 years after being initiated into the Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta. Barbara worked to pay her way through USD and is proud of her campus job assisting the well-known and respected Dr. E.P. Rothrock, then the head of the USD geology department and a South Dakota State geologist. It was during this time that Barbara became a pledge of Alpha Xi Delta. Barbara laughs when she recalls having to live in an unfinished third floor attic of the yet-to-be-finished new Epsilon Chapter house because the downstairs was full. "It was a wonderful time and I was happy to be a part of it." Barbara was excited to purchase and receive her commemorative brick from the original AXD house, which she now proudly displays as a fond reminder of her friendships and good times shared with Epsilon sisters. Barbara continues her AXD connections and gatherings as a long- time member of the Arlington Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. Never afraid of trying something new, when Barbara first saw the USD all-male marching band, she thought a majorette group would be a great addition. The university agreed and soon several young women volunteered to accompany Barbara as she led the way with her baton and determination! Barbara was born and raised in South Dakota. Her first 20 years were spent on her family's 400-acre farm in Sioux Falls, bordered on the north by the Sioux River. Her parents were dairy farmers and cultivated beautiful floral crops, which they sold from their family garden shop, the Wahoo Lodge Floral Shop, located on their farm and in downtown Sioux Falls. Barbara and her two brothers grew up helping with the dairy and floral farm tasks, while also walking three miles to attend a local two- room schoolhouse. While attending Washington High School, Barbara worked at her family's downtown floral shop. A childhood surrounded by flowers turned into a lifelong love for flowers and gardening. For the past 60 years, Barbara has nurtured her beautiful flowering gardens at her home in Arlington, Texas. Soon to turn 100 years old, she still tends to her yard and flowers daily: planting, raking, and pulling weeds. It is her passion! People often stop by to marvel at the work of this petite 100 lb. dynamo. In 1940, the summer after her junior year, Barbara decided she wanted to become an airplane pilot. With rumblings that WWII might occur in the near future, the U.S. Government formed a pilot training program known as the Civilian Pilot Training Program with a training location in Sioux Falls. One woman was chosen for every 10 men. One of two women chosen, Barbara was the only one to complete the rigorous course, learning to enjoy the excitement of aerial spins and dives, and the challenge of stabilizing again. Barbara is proud of this accomplishment and says she would still enjoy flying today if she could! Barbara accepted a marriage proposal from her flight instructor Clifford Kraemer, and they married in the fall of 1940. Cliff became a pilot for American Airlines and the couple relocated to NYC. While raising their family of three they lived in several different U.S. locations, eventually settling in Arlington, Texas, in 1960. Cliff passed away in 1997 but Barbara remains in Arlington. Epsilon is proud to call this inspiring woman one of our sisters. Campaign Status At-a-Glance As of May 7, 2019 Goal: $1.4 Million Total Raised: $1,364,125 Number of Donors: 245 Participation: 20% HOW TO GIVE Coming Home: The Campaign for 214 North Plum Make Checks Payable To: Epsilon House Corporation (Memo: Capital Campaign) Or Alpha Xi Delta Foundation (Memo: Epsilon Chapter House Fund) Online giving is also available. Mail all forms and payments to: Alpha Xi Delta, P.O. Box 630, Vermillion, SD 57069-0630

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