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One of the first projects of the Beachcombers Garden Club was the beautification and care of the grounds of the then-new Liberty Lake Community Church, pictured here in 1963.

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History: Beachcombers’ influence, friendships span decades
4/29/2015 9:42:31 AM

By Karen Johnson
Liberty Lake Historical Society

Sitting around a campfire and sharing stories with neighbors is a Liberty Lake tradition. This month, as part of its 2015 "Neighbors and Neighborhoods" series, the Liberty Lake Historical Society invites you to visualize and enjoy a "fireside" conversation with the Beachcombers Garden Club. Before we introduce these neighbors, some background on the Club. 

Like many great beginnings, the Beachcombers Garden Club began with a handful of neighbors in a living room with two goals: to beautify the area around Liberty Lake and to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening. While both of those aims have left a wonderful imprint on our community, our recent "fireside" chats unveiled even greater testimonies to the Beachcombers' true heartbeat. Join in the party with the following eight women who are our representative face on this 56-year-old legacy builder... 

The legacy of beautifying through working together
Karen Ruef is the current and longstanding Beachcombers' co-president alongside Margaret Barnes. She was tireless in digging through, sharing and answering questions about the articles and pictures from scrapbooks and minutes lovingly collected and preserved by many hands for over 50 years. One of the first of their many accomplished projects was clearing out, planting and maintaining the grounds surrounding the then-new Liberty Lake Community Church. They were also dedicated to their children's schools, donating and planting a few trees at Greenacres Elementary School (now Central Valley Kindergarten Center) and some landscaping work at Greenacres Junior High School when it was first built.

Their work also included table arrangements for the CV PTA ham dinner, favors for the Veterans Hospital and Edgecliff Sanitarium and craft favors for residents of Sunshine Gardens Nursing Home for nearly 40 years. For that, they were awarded a well-deserved Volunteer of the Year plaque in 2005. And the list goes on...

The legacy of stimulating knowledge and love of gardening
The Beachcombers joined the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs shortly after becoming an official club. That made for nine garden clubs in Spokane Valley. Together, they sponsored garden shows with flower arrangement competitions. As Mary Floy Dolphin, Liz Kiblen and Polly Soderquist recalled memories, I learned that most of the members claimed they had no flower-arranging ability. So many of them gathered driftwood and weeds (like thistles and cattails) and passed them on to the more creative ones amongst them (most notably Della Neyland, Mary Floy's mother). Polly and Liz laughed at the absurdity of their weeds winning prize money at the swank Davenport Hotel, but the Beachcombers came home with ribbons and money! Some even remembered that their beautiful weedy arrangements were purchased! All the money, of course, went to fund the club's projects.

While Polly talked of learning about and appreciating the art of flower arranging as well as being inspired to garden her own yard, Tobi Pfeifer (the Beachcombers' very first vice president) quipped, "I come across a worm (in the garden) and I'm all done!" So what is the VP (whom others claimed as the "fun one") doing in a garden club? Read on...

The legacy of fundraising for worthwhile causes
While records indicate that a love of gardening inspired the club, it certainly wasn't the driving force. As each gardener spoke, I realized their common "seed" had sprouted as love and generosity toward others. Shirley Payne, current club treasurer, summarized, "Our basic purpose is to make a little money and give it away." For example, after the initial Liberty Lake Community Church project was completed (about two years), the club entered it in the Sears Urban Renewal Contest. They were awarded a $100 prize for outstanding beautification work, which was poured back into the church's site. For many years, the Beachcombers continued to maintain the grounds and trees, many of which were planted in memory of church members. 

Other fundraising efforts included: a Christmas tree decorated with handmade ornaments and sold to Washington Mutual Savings Bank for their lobby, the proceeds of which went to the church project; reprinting and selling of the "Memories of Liberty Lake" booklet by Mildred Brereton and Evelyn Foedish, the proceeds of which went to the development of Pavillion Park; and years of fun but exhausting luncheons for the community, the proceeds of which went to a lengthy list of worthwhile causes, including the Liberty Lake Fireworks Fund (always), Valley Food Bank (Spokane Valley Partners), Second Harvest, the Valley museum, and one of Karen's favorites: needy families at Christmastime. Shirley exclaimed, "I used to make 14 ba-zillion pillows!" used as additional fundraisers at the luncheons. 

Regarding fundraisers in more recent years, Dona Lettelleir, present club secretary and host of the annual Christmas party, enjoys their relationship with the Liberty Lake Arboretum. The club donates plantings for a designated Beachcombers' area, and each planting is in memory of a former Beachcomber. (The most recent are lilacs which will soon be added in memory of Margaret Rasmussen and Sunny Lancaster. The two dogwoods at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library are also Beachcomber memorials.) 

The legacy of lifelong relationships born out of united hearts 
Most of the ladies shared personal sentiments about the friendships they've developed over the years of serving together. Tobi recalled that early on they took turns babysitting so others could attend the meetings. "Everybody's kids shared the playpen! (It was a) fun group ... a fun way to get together. I was thrilled it was started." 

Longtime Beachcomber Lorna Freeman said, "Everything about it was fun. Monthly meetings are always fun to get together. ... (They are) good, good, good friends." 

Karen fondly remembered the Beachcomber's 50th anniversary party: "It was special ... so good to gather with members from over the years. It was good to connect again." 

This legacy-building organization has poured its life into this community for over a half century. Its hard-working, wonderful women are older now; gardening is mostly behind them, and fundraising requires more stamina. Others might be tempted to hang it up, but not these ladies! Age simply means a change of format. Soon, they will be baking cookies to sell at the annual Liberty Lake Community Yard Sales in June. One of the younger gals, who is in her late 60s, shared her thoughts about a recent Yard Sales when it was pouring rain and blustery. The Beachcombers were "tough little ladies out there selling stuff," she recalls. But they persevered. "They're just wonderful little ladies!" 

You can hear the smile in Mary Floy's voice as she added, "We don't take on any big (fundraising) projects anymore. We raise dues on ourselves so we don't have to!"

Karen Johnson enjoyed sitting down with members of the Beachcombers Garden Club to glean the stories and reflections in this article. Johnson serves on the board of the Liberty Lake Historical Society. 

• • •

Did you know?
• You will find the Beachcombers raising money at 1331 N. Mitchell during the annual Liberty Lake Community Yard Sales on June 13. Stop by to buy cookies or talk to them about joining the club. 

• The Liberty Lake Arboretum (also known as Nature's Place) is located adjacent to and east of City Hall off Country Vista Drive.

• Beachcombers Garden Club is still active today as a nonprofit community club. Monies raised are donated to local needs like Spokane Valley Partners, Liberty Lake Fireworks and helping local children have a better Christmas.


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