WOMAN CELEBRATED BY CLUB ALUMS.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret

Artis Bigalk's birthday was on Labor Day this year and members of the Emanons Social Club feted her with a party in the Desert Inn Coffee Shop the next day.

When the club was formed back in 1963, just for fun and to keep in touch no officers, no projects - there were about 15 members, all of whom at one time had worked together at the now-defunct Daily Ledger-Gazette.

The roster has varied a little over the years, but a core group of women remained constant at about eight. As their daughters grew up, they were included in the club's activities.

Through death or relocation, the original group has dwindled to four - Bigalk, plus three daughters.

The party for Bigalk was the first time they had done something special for her. They put a birthday crown on her head, gave her gifts and one of them even baked her a cake.

``It only took us about 40 years to do this for you, Artie,'' said one of them.

Bigalk, still recovering from recent left-eye cataract surgery, announced she was already able to see better. Despite the fact she also suffers from a lung disease and a spinal canal problem that causes numbness in her feet, she maintains an optimistic attitude.

``Age plays heck with the body,'' she said, ``but if you can keep your brain cells active you can still enjoy life no matter how old you get. Fortunately, I've still got my brain.''

A native of Columbia, S.D., she was transported to a farm home in Cresco, Iowa, in 1927 by her parents, Art and Hulda Baudoin.

She milked cows, hauled the grain in, operated the farm equipment. At the same time she was expected to help clean the house, carry in stove wood and tote water.

``We had no running water, no electricity, but we had a house with a path,'' she laughed.

After high school she went into nursing training, and ended up following a roommate out to Anaheim for a hospital job.

Another Cresco family, Newton and Susie Bigalk and their son, Gerald, had moved to Chino and, in order to keep in touch with home, they subscribed to the the Cresco, Iowa, newspaper by mail.

One day they read that a local girl, named Artis Baudoin, had come out to California to work. Artis' mother and Susie Bigalk had been friends since girlhood.

Bigalk wrote a letter to Artis to tell her that they would welcome a visit from her anytime.

When Artis' mother came out to visit her, Artis called Bigalk.

``I didn't know the area very well yet and so when my mother arrived, I thought about Mrs. Bigalk's letter,'' said Artis. ``I called her and asked if she would like to have company.''

Susie Bigalk was delighted. She volunteered her son's services to pick Artis and her mother up in Anaheim.

Artis and Jerry Bigalk ended up marrying less than four months later.

For a brief time after they were married Artis worked in a Pomona Valley Hospital, then in a doctor's office.

In May 1953 they came to Palmdale and Artis's nursing career was essentially ended.

Jerry came to a shop foreman's job, which he held until December of 1954 when he went into the commercial printing business.

Artis wrote news copy for local newspapers for three years, then became simply Jerry's partner.

The print shop in 1961 became independent of the Ledger-Gazette and as Printing Service Center moved into its own building on Fern Avenue. Jerry and she remained in business there until they sold it in 1991 and retired.

They have two daughters, Barbara Thornhill of Grand Terrace and Marcia Martinez of Yucca Valley.

Artis was very active in the PTA, as well as being a Girl Scouts of America Brownie leader.

During the girls' high school years, the Bigalks became an American Field Service host family to Bernadette ``Erma'' Lim, a student from the Philippines, with whom they have continued a close relationship.

Artis was the second person named an Unsung Hero by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and when Jerry was later given the Chamber's B.P. Glenn award, they became the only couple to have received both of the chamber's top accolades.

Both Bigalks have been members of the Antelope Valley Club of Printing House Craftsmen Inc. since its inception in 1985 and Artis served two terms as president. She is now treasurer.

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk for the suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Polish sausage, parsleyed potatoes, cooked cabbage, garden salad, oatmeal cookies.

Tuesday: Crispy chicken, mashed potatoes, beets, carrot/raisin salad, banana.

Wednesday: Beef tips, parsleyed noodles, broccoli, lettuce and tomato salad, ice cream.

Thursday: Turkey and bread dressing, butternut squash, tossed salad, fruit.

Friday: Spanish rice casserole, refried beans, mixed vegetables, fiesta coleslaw, orange Jell-O.