Rhea Beryl DeHaven Stewart (1899– ) was an educator, writer, and active member of South Dakota’s literary and educational communities. Born on September 2, 1899, in Linden, Iowa, she moved with her family to homestead near Capa, South Dakota, in 1907 and later to Wessington, South Dakota, in 1915.

Stewart began teaching at a rural school while still in high school. She completed her high school education at Northern States Teachers’ College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, followed by a Master of Arts in English Literature from the State University of Iowa in 1932. She held teaching positions at Roosevelt and Simmons Junior High Schools and became Director of the English Department at Central High School in Aberdeen, where she also advised the Drama Club and initiated the student publication Word Craft.

On January 24, 1943, she married Chase David Stewart and became a farm homemaker near Wessington. Stewart was a prolific poet and writer, contributing to numerous publications and receiving awards in national competitions and state literature contests. She was a member of the South Dakota Press Women and the National League of American Pen Women, serving as state president of the latter.

Stewart remained active in education through service on the South Dakota Board of Education (1947–1959) and participation in President Eisenhower’s Conference on Education in 1955. Her achievements are recognized in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in South Dakota, and International Who’s Who in Poetry.

Gertrude Stickney Young (September 14, 1883–January 1965) was born in Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory, to Emma and Sutton Young, the first Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1910 and pursued additional studies at Cornell University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California.

Young served on the faculty of South Dakota State University from 1907 to 1942, where she gained a reputation as an engaging and respected instructor. Upon her retirement, she was named Professor Emeritus and continued to contribute to South Dakota’s intellectual life through her writing. She authored numerous historical sketches, including South Dakota: An Appreciation and Dakota Again, many of which were privately published and remain in library collections across the state.

A dedicated civic leader, Young was the first president of the Brookings Branch of the American Association of University Women and an active member of local organizations such as the Faculty Women’s Club and the Brookings Woman’s Club. She passed away in January 1965.