Eminent Homemaker
County: Hamlin
Cecelia Baxter, Hazel, is being recognized for her energy and enthusiasm, her willingness to promote a worthwhile project and her ability to complete a job. Her belief that people will respond if they are asked has accomplished much for Hamlin County.
She moved to Watertown from Minneapolis when she was two. During her four years of teaching, she worked with the Campfire Girls and YWCA activities. Then she married Everett Baxter and moved to the Hazel community.
In 1935 Baxter helped organize the Hazel Extension Club. She became the first woman member of the Hamlin County Extension Board in 1948 and was the first president of the Hamlin County Home Demonstration Council. She was a field woman for Agricultural Adjustment Association Auxiliary, now the Agricultural Conservation and Stabilization Service.
The Baxters were involved in organizing the B-Square Girls 4-H Club, the Hamlin County 4-H Leaders Association and the agricultural Oxford Corner 4-H Club. Baxter has attended the South Dakota 4-H Leaders’ Camp five times and has received the gold, silver and pearl clover awards for 4-H leadership.
Baxter has initiated many community projects and activities. She asked an REA president about finding a few pieces of equipment for a newly built 4-H facility and got an entire kitchen. She made the initial contacts for the Watertown High School Class of 1923 reunion two years ago. It was due to her interest that a knitting group was organized in her community.
She was one of the first South Dakota women to be named a Lay-Leader in the Methodist church. Baxter has been president of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and taught Sunday School regularly until 1962.
The Baxters have two daughters. Barbara graduated from South Dakota State University in home economics and is married to pharmacist Donald Hughes of Watertown; Joyce is a home economics senior at SDSU.