DRY VALLEY QUARTET

by Ona Warden and Erma Elliott Boyer

Entry T72 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Dry Valley Quartet - 1940 Ivan, Sylvia, Ona, Charles

Dry Valley Quartet - early '40's Ona, Charlie,
Erma & sitting Fielden Boyer

Dry Valley Quartet at Calf sale 1984
Leonard Ridenour, Erma Boyer, Ona Warden
and Ivan Boyer

If this longstanding singing group had a
theme song, they would no doubt choose, A
Church in the Wildwood. The Dry Valley
Quartet originated in a small rural church
about 16 miles north and west of Mullen. It
isn't exactly a "wildwood" setting, but other-
wise the general theme is appropriate for the
area in which the Dry Valley Church is built.
The group first sang together for a funeral,
and the majority of their singing since has
been for that purpose. Records kept, show far
more than 130 funerals. The group hasn't
limited their harmonizing to this type of
singing. Charlie Boyer sang bass, Fielden
Boyer sang tenor, Charlie's daughter, Ona
Boyer Warden sang alto and daughter-in-
law, Erma Elliott Boyer sang soprano. This
group sang the longest together. They were
frequently called upon to sing for Memorial
Day Services, community benefits, specials
for church, Christmas programs, banquets
and any community function that needed
music for entertainment. They have demon-
strated their talents in Seneca, Whitman,
Hyannis, Valentine, Thedford, Alliance and
Gering, Nebraska. In addition to their Dry
Valley Church, they sang at the rural Episco-
pal Church in South Hooker County, Eclipse,
also a Methodist rural church that served five
days a week as a school and on Sunday the
building was used for worship.

The group used to get together regularly
for song fests twice a month in various homes
before the days of television. Generally they
only sing now when they practice before a
performance.

Reminiscing, the group recalled many sad
moments, as well as those that were amusing
and some that were embarrassing. One of the
particularly difficult experience they recalled
was singing for a quintuple funeral. Five
members of a family lost their live in a
drowning accident.

The quartet has made three records that
include six gospel songs.

During the nearly 50 years that a `Dry
Valley Quartet' has sung, there have been
times when it was necessary to call on others
to fill in. Those that have sung with the
quartet at least 3 or 4 times include: Lessie
Boyer Goldizen, Virginia Hodges Ericksen,
Doris Dooley Miller, Sylvia Dooley Robinson,
Ivan Dooley, Pat Donahoe, Wavia Boyer
Phipps, Elva James Webber, Esther Boyer
Gillespie and Mrs. B.H. Murten.

Leonard Ridenour joined the group in the
late 50's to replace Ivan Dooley. After his
father's death in 1973 Ivan Boyer sang the
bass.

A charge has never been made for their
services and when they are given money for
singing at funerals, they immediately turn
the money to a memorial fund for the
deceased.