1961 edition, soft cover, spiral bound book, 80 pages. vintage used condition, some signs of wear and use, some hand written corrections and notes, some small food stains, see photos. tanning of the paper due to age, missing front cover and first page is partially loose, free shipping in the USA via USPS media mail. Inventory # 2839
a collection of photos, letters, correspondence, recipes, cleaning and housekeeping tips from Wynn Speece, the WNAX Neighbor Lady. Yankton South Dakota
Winifred (Wynn) Hubler Speece (1917–2007) was the "Neighbor Lady" on WNAX (AM) radio for 64 years from 1941 to 2005. Speece began working at WNAX in 1939 shortly after graduating from Drake University with a degree in theater. As the "Neighbor Lady", Speece shared recipes, household tips and personal anecdotes during her weekday program. At the height of her fame in the 1940s and 1950s, she received over 250,000 letters a year
WNAX published "Your Neighbor Lady book", a collection of recipes, tips and letters from listeners, from 1941 through the 1970s. Speece received a Marconi Radio Award in 1992.
Obituary: Wynn Speece, age 90, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Monday, October 22, 2007 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. on November 7, 2007, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton with Reverend David Wildermuth officiating.
Wynn's body will be donated to the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in Vermillion.
Wynn was born the younger daughter of Walter T. and Florence (Pepper) Hubler on September 1, 1917. As a child, she lived in Marshalltown, Iowa and enjoyed the small town rural atmosphere. At age 14, she moved to Des Moines, Iowa when her father was transferred to the new Heinz 57 sales area. She lived as a young teen in the small Midwestern city and graduated from North High School in 1935. She loved both home economics and theater even as a young woman and chose to attend Drake University in Des Moines to major in speech with a broadcasting emphasis. She graduated from Drake in 1939 after working her way through school reading the funny papers aloud over KRNT radio. She believed in education and hard work — traits she held strong throughout her career as a broadcaster. In September of 1939, she took a job as continuity writer (writer of commercials) at WNAX radio in Yankton. Her career as the WNAX Neighbor Lady began in the summer of 1941. She was an "instant success" at "bridging the miles for her neighbors" and continued successfully for the next 64 years.
By 1942, she had met the love of her life, Harry L. Speece, through her roommate, and on January 3, 1946, they married. Wynn's career grew even as did her family. In 1947, the family grew by one when daughter Gretchen arrived, and in 1949, it gained two when daughter Dorothy and son Peter arrived. In 1952, Todd arrived to complete the foursome. By this time, Wynn was well-known and loved across the middle west. She earned awards and praise with her sincerity and her positive sunny voice. Through the years, she earned countless awards including the coveted Marconi award but one that gave her great pride was the honorary doctorate she received from Mt. Marty College in 2004. Earning such a prestigious degree gave her great pleasure and tickled her fancy especially when husband, Harry, referred to her as "Doctor Neighbor Lady".
Wynn Speece's involvement in Yankton and the lives of its citizens has been a major part of her life. In 1991, the Yankton community granted her the Citizen of the Year award for her extensive involvement in community outreach activities.
Survivors include two daughters, Dorothy (Howard) Shields of Salina, KS and Gretchen Speece Rich of Mitchell, SD; two sons, Peter (Teri) Speece of Green Valley, AZ and Todd (Carol) Speece of Malvern, PA; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Wynn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harry Speece on March 12, 2006; granddaughter, Pamela Shields; one sister, Gretchen Wade and step-mother, Helen Thoming.