The Life of Audrey Luella Hammann Bedell

Born: October 26, 1918, McPherson, Kansas

Died: February 27, 2005, Omaha, Nebraska

Audrey Hammann was born in McPherson, Kansas in 1918, the seventh of seven children of Lewis and Ella Hammann.

(Hammann Family – 1929 – Audrey is on the right next to her mother)

She attended McPherson schools through high school, graduating in 1936 at 17 years of age. Audrey immediately enrolled at McPherson College, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and Physical Education in 1940 at 21 years of age. Although her father Lewis died in 1924, her mother Ella saw that all seven of her children received a college education.

 Audrey Hammann – High School Graduation – 1936

Upon graduation, Audrey used her training to teach Physical Education and Home Economics at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. She taught at McPherson College and in Stafford, Kansas, furthering her education by attending summer programs at the University of Iowa.

While teaching in Ann Arbor Michigan, she married Warren Bedell in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois.

 Wedding Picture – 1944

They lived in California and Texas over the next couple of years, as Warren’s Navy training sent them for radar school in these places. Audrey and Warren lived in McPherson, Kansas after WWII, owning a music store that also sold appliances and radios. They then moved to Wichita, Kansas, where Audrey taught briefly in Adult Education, before moving to Omaha, Nebraska in 1957.

Audrey and Warren had three children:
• Cheryl Lynn Bedell in 1946
• Reece Hammann Bedell in 1948 (died in 2004)
• Barbara Leigh Bedell in 1951

Bedell Family – 1956

As the children got older, Audrey went back to work in the Omaha schools, starting in 1960. In addition to working and raising three kids, she also went back to school at the University of Omaha. She took one class a semester, starting in 1962, and received her Master’s Degree in School Counseling in 1967 at 49 years of age. Audrey immediately put this degree to use, becoming a school counselor (and eventually Director of Counseling at Northwest High School) in Omaha until her retirement in 1983.

Audrey Bedell found her calling in school counseling. She was deeply involved professionally, serving as president of both the Nebraska School Counselors Association and the UNO Alumni Counselors Association. She served on the North Central Evaluation team for the Minneapolis high school guidance program, received the American Legion Career Guidance Award, and the Nebraska Outstanding Counselor Award. She was active in the Phi Delta Gamma education sorority, serving in several capacities, including President. Her alma mater, McPherson College, honored her as well, awarding her the Citation of Merit, an award given to the most prestigious alumni.

Audrey Bedell – School Counselor

The church was always an important part of Audrey’s life, and she was heavily involved in church activities. She started a total of four adult church school classes in Wichita and Omaha. At St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Omaha, she served as church school teacher and coordinator, and as a member of the President’s Administrative Board, the St. Paul’s Future Committee, and the Council on Ministries. In addition, she led district-wide workshops for singles, directed Bible School, and filled the capacity of liturgist in the church. Audrey served as lay minister at St. Paul’s until she was 78 years old, and continued to remain involved, doing visitations and guiding volunteers, until 2004 when she was 86.

Audrey Bedell – Lay Minister – St. Paul United Methodist Church – Omaha

In addition to her work, Audrey loved to travel, and visited many places in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, Cuba, and the Middle East. But she also enjoyed activities at home, including playing cards, sewing, reading book clubs, and community service.

Audrey loved and was loved by the men, women, and children she met and helped during her life.  She was a leader, a teacher, and a role model to women she worked with and counseled.  During her years after retirement from the Omaha Public Schools, her position as lay minister gave her empathy and satisfaction – being able to help so many in crisis situations.

Friends and Relatives on LifenTimes

Nina Hammann Berry – Sister

Laura Inez Hammann – Sister

Lewis and Ella Hammann – Parents

Myreta Hammann Stephan – Sister

Zella Hammann Kubin – Sister