Alis Deden Deden Bellairs
Oct 23,1913-Dec 29,2005

Alis Dudden Deden Bellairs was born on Oct. 23,1913, in a sod house on her parents homestead in Sedgwick County, Colo., northwest of Venango, Neb. She was the second of six children born to Barney A. and Christina Belle Collins Dudden. When Alis was a young girl the family moved to a farm in Phillips County, Colo., southwest of Venango. Alis attended rural school until 1920 when they moved into Venango. After their home burned down the family moved to a home just north of Venango and Alis continued her schooling in Venango, graduating from Venango High School in 1932.
She then enrolled in a one year teacher preparation program at Kearney State Teacher's College. She taught rural schools in the Venango and Brandon, Neb., area for five years.
Alis was married to David A. Deden on June 1, 1936 at the Dudden family farm north of Venango. They lived at different farmsites in Sedgwick County and Perkins County, Neb., until 1944 when they moved to the present farm northwest of Venango. She made her home there for the next 50 years. David died in 1949 due to a vehicle accident and Alis continued to manage the farm and raise her young family.
Alis was married to Victor Bellairs on April 16, 1960. Alis continued to live on the farm after Victor died in 1981 until 1995 when she moved to Westview Retirement Center in Grant, Neb. She moved to Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant in 2001 where she died late Thursday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2005. She had reached the age of 92. Alis was active in many church, school and community organizations when she lived at Venango. She was an organizer of the Fairy Dell Fire District and served as its secretary-treasurer for 50 years. She was a leader in Cub Scouts, Rainbow Girls, and numerous other family organizations. She was also active in the many parent activities of the Venango Schools. She was a lifelong member of the Venango Community Church. She was a member of the Perkins County Chapter No. 294 of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as the Worthy Matron in 1938. She was also a charter member of the Hosanna White Shrine in Denver. Alis had a keen interest in genealogy and spent many years researching the history of her family and kept many books with family records. During her retirement years, she enjoyed travel to foreign countries with her sister.
In addition to her parents and two husbands, Alis was preceded in death by two brothers, Garret and Orville Dudden. Services were held Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 at the Venango Community Church with Pastor Kevin Haus-man officiating. Burial was in the Venango Cemetery. A memorial to the Venango Community Church has been established in her memory.