Post-War Childhood and Cando High School
Margaret "Peggy" Stadum represents the second generation of educators in the Stadum family line. Her life story connects the small-town schools of post-war North Dakota with the growth of local education systems and community forums in Benson and Pierce Counties.
Peggy was born in 1942, shortly before her father Palmer departed for service in the United States Navy Construction Battalions (SeaBees). Growing up, Peggy experienced the shifting geography of her family's life as they moved from York to Cando. The town of Cando, situated in Towner County, was a bustling agricultural hub. Peggy attended the Cando public schools, navigating the academic and social clubs of the era. The 1953 Cando High School *Cub* Yearbook (Page 48) records her presence in the student roster, capturing a snapshot of her early teenage years. In post-war North Dakota, schools were the social and cultural centers of rural towns, hosting spelling bees, sports, and holiday pageants that brought farm families together.
Following the Classroom Legacy
Growing up under the influence of her mother Signe Marie Solberg Stadum—who taught for decades in rural schools and later in Cando—Peggy was drawn to the teaching profession. She pursued studies in education, preparing to guide new generations of children. Peggy eventually settled in Rugby, North Dakota, a town known as the geographical center of North America. Here, she joined the faculty of Ely Elementary School, working as a classroom teacher. Teaching elementary school in Rugby required not only academic instruction but also a deep understanding of the agricultural community. For decades, Peggy worked with young students, helping them develop fundamental literacy and social skills, carrying forward the legacy of care her mother had modeled in one-room schoolhouses.
After her retirement, Peggy remained in Rugby, maintaining a close connection to the school and her former colleagues. Her perspective as a retired teacher became a valuable community asset, particularly as the local school system faced the challenges of shifting enrollments and aging facilities.
Community Advocacy and Public Dialogue
In November 2021, the Rugby community gathered for a public forum to discuss a proposed expansion of Ely Elementary School. The proposed project involved a multi-million dollar bond issue to modernize the school and construct new classrooms. During this debate, Margaret Stadum stood up to offer her voice. As reported in *The Pierce County Tribune*, Peggy participated actively in the forum, highlighting the practical needs of students and staff and drawing on her decades of first-hand experience in the classrooms. School board and public discussions of this type illustrate the enduring connection between retired educators and the institutions they helped build.
Peggy's connection to the family landscape also extends to Saint Petri Cemetery in rural York, Benson County. Family photographs record Peggy visiting the cemetery side gate, placing flowers near the Solberg family plots, and maintaining the link between the generations. Through her education, her long career at Ely Elementary, and her participation in local public debates, Peggy has remained a central bridge between the homesteading generation of Palmer and Signe and the contemporary community life of Rugby, North Dakota.
