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.”
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month Bruce McDowell can be found walking around McCook for his health, to be helpful or maybe even attend a meeting.
It takes work and effort to be social but its vital to our community.
McCook's young people are shaping their hometown through a various projects.
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program
Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
