And a good time was had by all.
Its a newspaper cliche, historically associated with community correspondents who reported on the social events of their small towns. Now, the phrase seems antiquated.
As Colony correspondent, Mary Allene Luedke says she likely used the phrase, but she cant remember the last time when.
In her 47 years as Colony correspondent, Mrs. Luedke shell always be Mrs. Luedke to us has kept up with the times.
So its with sadness to accept the inevitable, that at age 88 Mrs. Luedke is retiring from the column, signaling the end of an era. Her last column appears in todays paper.
Since 1971, Mrs. Luedke has written thousands of news items that by modern newspaper standards may seem quaint. She names guests around the holiday or birthday table or out-of-town visitors at someones home, get-well wishes for a neighbor suffering a hardship, or a recap of the local church sermon.
People like to see their names in the paper, Mrs. Luedke contends.
Long before Facebook and Instagram, community correspondents publicly shared activities of local residents. The popularity of social media demonstrates societys continued desire for that type of personal connection.
People want to share what they are doing, and its a good way for the clubs to get coverage of things they are doing, she said.
MRS. LUEDKE grew up on a farm in Missouri, where she helped her father milk a dozen dairy cows and sold strawberries she picked for her mother. After high school, she worked as a secretary in Columbia, Mo., and Kansas City.
She met Morris Luedke at a church in Kansas City. When he asked her for a date she suggested they go square dancing with a group of friends, even though neither of them danced. It was the first and only time they ever went dancing.
They married after just three months of courtship, then moved to his hometown of Colony, a town of about 400 people, in 1957. Because Mrs. Luedke didnt know anyone except her husbands family, she set about to make friends.
She joined an Extension Homemakers Unit, an educational and social club that focused on issues affecting mostly rural women. Though such clubs still exist, most have faded in popularity.
She also went to work part time for the Colony City Clerks office and helped at her church. Meanwhile, she helped her husband on the farm and raised two children, Mark and Cheryl.
