A Story of Sisterhood

Memories shared by Edward G. Siebert, Anchor Man of Elisabeth "Peaches" Ford Siebert, Beta Iota—Purdue

It was 1940, and five young women from Georgia, Michigan and Indiana enrolled at Purdue University. As was the custom, all but one of the young ladies (one was a "townie") moved into the women's residence halls. Betty Ford and Natalie Lowey became roomies in one hall, Mary Henderson and Jean Gilbert moved in together in another. Cathy Leuty lived in Lafayette across the Wabash from campus.

And so an unassuming tale of sisterhood and friendship began. Their tale has spanned international borders and lasted nearly three—quarters of a century.

The young women became fast friends and, as is often the case, nicknames developed. Affectionately, Betty became known to the group as "Peaches," Natalie became "Nat'n," Mary went by "Hez" and Jean became "Gilly"–Cathy got to keep her name. With their new names, the quintet began decades of adventures and stories together.

First came rush. Peaches, Nat'n, Hez, Gilly and Cathy survived, and they all became pledges of Beta Iota chapter. They were freshmen initiates of Delta Gamma in spring 1941. They moved into the chapter house at 303 Waldron the following year. Peaches and Nat'n continued as roomies until the next fall. Peaches and Gilly were roommates in 1942, and Hez and Peaches became roomies as seniors.

In the '40s, Purdue University had around 5,000 students, and the ratio stood at 3.83 boys for every girl. A big night out for our DG ladies would be a mixer dance in the union ballroom. There was no alcohol in West Lafayette—except for Harry's, where they served only beer and checked ages with a vengeance. (You had to look and be 21 to even approach the door!)

All five DG roommates continued their close friendship after graduation in 1944. The friends scattered-to Minnesota, Florida, New York and even Switzerland-but their ties remained. Correspondence was sometimes infrequent but nonetheless ongoing. The friendships never wavered. Each sister (with her husband) visited Peaches in Switzerland over the course of her 30 years there.

Ten years ago, Peaches decided to move back to the United States, and her friends had a say in her plans. Nat'n decided Peaches should relocate to Orlando where Nat'n still lives. Nat'n had earned a doctorate and raised six children who had provided her with 22 grandchildren and, now, nine (and counting) great–grandchildren. Still, Peaches was informally adopted by her friend's multi–layered family.

In August 2001, Peaches became a newlywed, marrying her college sweetheart Edward. They now live in North Carolina, only 50 miles from Hez. Sadly, Cathy passed away in 2002, and Gilly in 2004. Their memories remain strong among the other three sisters.

Sixty—nine years ago, these Delta Gamma roomies relished their days at the chapter house at Purdue. Today, they honor their memories and lifelong bonds. Delta Gamma is for a lifetime; sisterhood is forever!

Elisabeth "Peaches" Ford Siebert and her husband, Ed, found a way to celebrate their special memory of Delta Gamma sisters. Over the past several years, the couple has endowed three scholarships in the names of Peaches' roommates: the Dr. Natalie Lowey Delcamp Honorary Scholarship, the Jean "Gilly" Gilbert Kraybill Memorial Scholarship and the Mary Henderson Bement Honorary Scholarship. These scholarships will be given in perpetuity, celebrating the wonderful memories Peaches started in 1940.

The Sieberts endowed another scholarship in memory of Peaches' sister, the Ann Ford McGlynn Memorial Scholarship. Ed also endowed a scholarship in his wife's honor, the Elisabeth "Peaches" Ford Siebert Honorary Scholarship, in part to capture the spirit of sisterhood she found in her four friends.