PHOTO OF THE DAY: TRIBUTE TO MRS. MUDDER
The following was written by Terry Walter and appeared as a guest editorial in the Aug. 29 edition of The Courier. Betty Mudder began teaching band at Freeman High School in the 1960s and continued until 1994, when she and her husband, Alvin, retired from education. Betty passed away on July 2, 2024 at the age of 89. Terry Walter graduated from Freeman High School in 1972 and is a retired music instructor. She lives seasonally in Sioux Falls and Arizona and still plays piano for the Gospel Gold Quartet, which includes Freeman resident Dennis Wollman. NOTE: Because of typos, the year of death and year of Walter’s graduation were incorrect in the print edition of this week’s Courier.
In the last weeks, since Betty Mudder’s death, I’ve had a rush of memories come over me. She had a profound impact on many lives, and mine was no exception. She guided me to find the right instrument and expected nothing less than my best efforts. She set standards that were high and taught us that perfection was the goal. That’s not to say that we reached it. But I learned that by setting that goal, you always came much closer to perfection than you would have otherwise. I started accompanying for her in high school and continued to do so later in life. When she approached me to play for her Christmas cantatas in Avon, it never occurred to me to say “no.” (And yes, I always wore a dress to these programs.) She had never turned me down and we were a team, after all. They attended many of my concerts and she was there to offer an honest critique following the performance. This included not just the music but also my attire, when it didn’t meet her standards. She was not one to lavish praise. You had to earn it. In recent years, they visited us in AZ, several times. She worked tirelessly to finish projects that I’d thought were completed. Her standards were not met; I had fallen short and she told me. That never offended me. She wanted it to be perfect for me. When they no longer made long trips, we’d catch up with regular phone calls. She kept track of when we were back in SD, either by driving past our home or calling. They stopped by with regularity and we’d sometimes share lunch before they’d move on to their next appointment. They happily delivered our plants from Fensel’s or our food order from Bob’s. The last time they stopped was on June 11. They had been out to dinner to celebrate their 68th anniversary. It was just a quick stop and they were on their way. I had no idea it was “Goodbye.” They had in some ways become the parents I’d lost a few years earlier. Now I feel that loss again.
In visiting with people recently, it became clear to me that many in Freeman don’t know the Mudders. I realize it’s been 30 years since they were part of FHS, but they remained a presence just the same. For those of us who were students during the 60s and 70s, and I think the next decade or so after, the Mudders personified the school. They were the ultimate cheerleaders for Freeman High School and while Mr. Mudder guided the district through reorganization which enlarged student population and ensured that Freeman would not fall into consolidation with another district, thereby losing its identity, Mrs. Mudder was building a music program that was the envy of surrounding towns. They were a team in every sense of the word with Ron and LeEtta Bennett making it a cast of four. And how blessed were those of us who benefited from the efforts. Countless students continue to benefit from those efforts but they have no idea how it began. I’m grateful to have been part of those CAMELOT years and will always cherish my teacher Mrs. Mudder who became my friend Betty.
