Women gather in Page for annual salad supper

Joyful fellowship.

The two terms combine to set the ambiance for a longstanding Page tradition, the yearly women's salad supper. This year's supper, celebrated Dec. 1, at the Page United Methodist Church, featured candlelight and snowflakes, creating warmth and light, illuminating memories and creating new ones.

Diane Heiss, a member of the supper's planning committee, said the tradition "starts the season off right."

"I also liked it because daughters came with their moms and sometimes the grandmas were here," Heiss added.

This year, approximately 25 women from the community attended the gathering, including several multi-generational families.

An exact date for the first supper isn't know. Some of this year's attendees thought the first few suppers were held in the 1950s. Others think its origins date to the 1970s, when the church's Joy Circle began hosting the event.

Originally, church women met as King's Daughters. Eventually, it split into two groups, Martha's Circle, for older women and, for younger congregation members, Joy Circle.

Joy Circle spells out, in order, important elements in life: Jesus, others, yourself.

It's evident in every detail relating to the evening.

While some things remain the same - delectable salads, homemade bread and desserts - other parts of the supper have adapted to the times. The event was canceled in 2020, due to COVID-19.

"We did it differently this year," Heiss said.

Typically an eight-foot table holds rows of salads, cheeseballs, meat and cheese trays, relishes and homemade breads. Organizers cut back on the number of salads and added soups to the menu.

"Everyone has their own thing to bring," Nina Sorenson said.

In the past, church women have divided into committees: decorations, entertainement and kitchen. Everyone pitches in to set a festive mood for guests, who come from, not only Page, but surrounding towns.

Shari Ickes said, in past years, a group of women from O'Neill would venture to Page for the supper.

Two years ago, special visitors - a couple bats - greeted guests, temporarily interrupting an the evening songfest.

Music usually plays a part in the evening's activities, too.

Ickes said, "There's always been some kind of entertainment."

"Usually, it's someone from the church," Diane Heiss said.

Carla Stagemeyer said one of her favorite memories is the entertainment presented either prior to or following the meal.

She has a picture of three Page men who dressed up as women.

"They had purple blouses and dresses. I think Kevin Heiss had facial hair. They had wigs and they lip synced," she said. "And, they didn't tell any of their mothers."

Most of the moms, including Heiss's mom, Della, were in the audience.

At the time, Della Heiss looked at the group of men and said, "Can that be Kevin?"

There have been other entertainers, too, including members of the Sunday School classes, Pastor Mike Durre, Santa Claus.

"There's always a theme," Heiss said.

Nativity scenes. Christmas houses. Christmas trees.

This year, trees and snowflakes set the tone.

In year's past, women wore formal dresses

Sandra Peed said that caught her attention when she attended her first salad supper in 1984.

"The first one I went to, I was in awe. Here were these older women in formals. I was so impressed," she said.

One year, individuals brought their own holiday china to set tables with unique scenes.

At some point, younger congregation members will need to carry on the tradition.

"That's why Tatum's here," Ickes joked.

Tatum Ickes, Ickes' granddaughter, attended with her mother, Lori.

As guests reflected on their memories of the annual event, all agreed it is Page's residents who make this event, and the community, a success.

Everybody helps.

As candlelight flickers and the pristine lights on the Christmas tree twinkle, a chorus of "Silent Night" signals the evening is nearly complete, until next year, when Page's women, and their friends, gather once more, with joy in their hearts.