McCOOK, Neb. -- Birdella Nelson’s dedication to her only child not only served him well in his professional and political life, but will help put McCook in position to raise up leaders for generations to come.
The late cafeteria worker and doctor’s office clerk will accomplish that through an endowment in her honor to the McCook Public Library by her son, former U.S. Senator and Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson, who spoke to a small Heritage Days crowd Saturday afternoon at the library.
The $500,000 Birdella Nelson Endowment will yield about 4 1/2% annually, or about $22,000 the first year, and is projected to grow to about $900,000 in 20 years, yielding about $40,000 a year for improvements to the city library.
The permanent endowment is being channeled through the McCook Community Foundation Fund, helping to boost the MCFF endowment to more than $4 million.
Nelson said he was never lonely as an only child, “mainly because I was raised as an adult. You can’t get into trouble in the backseat of a car when you’re there by yourself.”
He worked his way through the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorers systems, and was one merit badge short of the rank of Eagle Scout, when he was overcome by fumes -- “gas fumes and perfumes,” he said.
But his mother was adept at reverse psychology.
“Look,” Birdella told her 15-year-old son, “I’ll finish that merit badge, but I get to wear the badge.”
“But what was most important about that experience was learning how when you start something, to finish it. It was important that you take the responsibility of getting it done yourself, but your parents have to push you along the way … may I say shoved.”
The process started long before his teenage years, he said, when was about four when he found out what the library was all about.
“I watched Miss Slaby, who was right out of central casting for a librarian, take a steel-tip pen, dip it in ink, and then, very, very elegantly, write two, six, six. I was mesmerized by how she made her two, it was nothing like I’d been taught … but I treasured that library card. And my mother, because she didn’t have anything else to do but raising an only child, was able to take me to the library … as often as she could, and sometimes even more often than maybe I wanted to.”
“I’m just here to say thank you to my mother and thank you to the community, and all who have had any part in making my life what it’s become … my parents, my friends in the community, of teachers, pastors and everybody who’s ever cared about how I work and how things worked for me,” Nelson said.
“Well, Birdella Nelson was my cheerleader, and my champion, and so, this is a very small thing to do for the great, great things that she did for me.”
Nelson said one of his priorities for the endowment was that local decisions would determine how it would be used, one of many with local input was Mary Dueland, who recently discovered her own library card, “5358” issued in 1962 or 1963.
A retired teacher, and part of the Library Advisory Board and Library Foundation Board, Dueland explained how the funding would be used to help transition the library from strictly a place to check out books to include the Birdella Nelson Technology Center, an interactive space for innovation and creativity through the use of technology.
Andy Long, executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., explained that once he learned of the scope of Nelson’s planned gift, he recruited Mrs. Dueland as well as Dennis Berry, Denise Garey, Laura Ford, Linda Taylor, Steve Batty, Dawson Brunswick, Jody Crocker, Nate Schneider and Ronda Graff for input and feedback on how best to use the gift.
Long said Nelson’s gift was the catalyst that helped inspire him to believe that the “2020s are going to be McCook’s decade,”
“And I think in 10 years, we’ll probably come back here during Heritage Days and say ‘look at how the library has changed. Look at how the community changed, and thank Sen. Nelson and your mom Birdella once more.”
Linda Graff named McCook Volunteer of the Month for December 2025
By focusing on what is important, we can make an even better impact in our communities.
After a 10-year hiatus, the McCook Holiday Home Tours return focusing on downtown upstairs apartments.
While many people think volunteering is for older residents, serving your community has no age restrictions. And young people can regularly be found lending a hand or offering their services in their hometown. The November 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month recognizes one of many young people are working to make their community an even better place to call home: Grady Riemenschneider. Currently a senior at McCook High School, Grady volunteers with a wide variety of organizations and groups. As a four-year member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Youth Change Reaction, Grady serves as the ambassador for the youth group’s “Cars Under Stars,” the outdoor movie theater at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. At nearly every showing, he can be found operating the projector and setting up the parking lot, as well as passing along his knowledge to the next ambassador. In McCook’s FFA program, Grady has held officer roles the past four years and is currently the chapter vice president, organized the chapter banquet in 2025 and coached for the conduct of chapter meetings. Along with serving as the president of the Driftwood Feeders 4-H Club, he assists with setup, tear down and fundraising for the dog show and helps fellow members train their dogs. Grady steps in to help and lead at local events, including Prairie Plains CASA’s Kick in’ It Up for CASA and the Cajun Broil; the Edward Jones Alzheimer’s Walk; operating sound boards for various groups; and Feed the Farmer. And he has served as a youth leader at McCook Christian Church for elementary youth since approximately 2018 as well as stepping up to ensure the ag program ran smoothly during a teacher’s maternity leave Upon request from his mother about some of Grady’s activities, Sharleen noted that he is the “Chief Household Operations Officer: first responder for Mom’s to-do list, go-to chauffeur and caretaker for his favorite sidekick (a.k.a. his nephew), and the family’s unofficial event planner who somehow keeps everyone together without a clipboard.” The McCook Philanthropy Council recognizes a volunteer every month who is doing good work in McCook and Red Willow County. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308-345-3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County but please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community. The volunteer honoree is selected monthly by the McCook Philanthropy Council.
With the holiday's nearing, MCFF member and Mayor Linda Taylor reflects on the many things to be thankful in McCook.
The names of those people who have made a generational impact on McCook and Southwest Nebraska is a long list. Many of them are working day-in, day-out right now to make their mark on the community. And then there are those people who no longer call McCook home but still make an impact long after they are gone. Allen Strunk is one of those people. Allen passed away on Nov. 1 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada but he never lost the love of his hometown. Born and raised in McCook, Allen was a member of an already well-known family, Harry and Arlene Strunk. The Strunks started and published the McCook Daily Gazette, with the motto, “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.” A saying that was so important that Harry had it etched at the top of his downtown newspaper office on Norris Avenue. That sense of service was passed along to Allen, who continued to serve his community as he took over leadership of the Gazette. I didn’t know Allen personally until he came back for visits years later. Even though my first job upon arriving in McCook was at the McCook Daily Gazette and Allen had turned over the publishing reins to Gene Morris many years prior, the Strunk legacy loomed large. He was instrumental in the building of the then-new YMCA, moving the facility from downtown to its current location next to the McCook High School. He was a key player in the new hospital, again moving from one location to a new expanded space. And McCook Community College benefitted his involvement in an expansion. Those projects continue to impact McCook today. And the support didn’t stop just because Allen retired from the Gazette and left McCook. There are programs the Strunks are involved in that benefit McCook and Southwest Nebraska. The Strunks continue to support Santa Claus Lane, which is overseen by the McCook Chamber of Commerce. And which after a few years of decline is seeing a resurgence of enthusiasm and nostalgia for the decorative holiday pieces lining Norris Avenue. Allen funds the annual McCook Area Outstanding Teacher award, which provides a financial prize to several teachers every year. And Allen recognized the work of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, providing a donation several years ago so that he could see its impact while he was still alive. This has led MCFF to consider how they will recognize and remember Allen for years to come. Because of his belief in service to his community, this could mean more recognition for the countless volunteers who keep our community thriving. It could be a day of community service, to see how many people can come together to make something happen. It could be a celebration for all the great things happening in our community. During Allen’s memorial service this past week in McCook, his step-daughter-in-law read the poem, “The Dash" by Linda Ellis, who published it in 1996. It reflects on the meaning of the dash between the birth and death dates on a tombstone. The dash is a reminder of everything that happens between the moment a person is born and the moment a person dies. The dash emphasizes the importance of how one lives their life during that time. The dash prompts a person to think about living, rather than worrying about dying. Ultimately, the dash is where all the good - and the bad - happens. And Allen Strunk made the most of his “dash,” both in his community and within his family. We can’t all run a newspaper. We likely aren’t going to etch our favorite saying into a building. But we all need to consider how we are paying the “rent for the space we occupy in this world.” And we can all make a difference in our hometowns, whether we currently live in them or even if we haven’t stepped foot on the main street in years.
Everyone feels a need to be needed and it is shown through the Big Give and Meal Kit Giveaways
SWNE Big Give reaches new heights thanks to enthusiasm of organizations, individuals and businesses
Food pantries are seeing an increased need, which means the community must step up with donations of food and time to help those who struggle to put food on the table.
