"West of the Wide Missouri" is a captivating journey through the heartland of America, as seen through the keen eyes of award-winning journalist Bea Peterson. From the icy grip of North Dakota winters to the vibrant community life on the prairie, Peterson's human interest columns paint a vivid portrait of life in the region from the 1950s to the 1980s. Through interviews with early pioneers like Katherine Pelissier, Merle Aus, and Ben Bird, and many others, readers are transported to a time when the land was untamed and dreams were as vast as the prairie itself. From the dusty trails of cattle drives, Custer Trail Ranch, and The Badlands Boot and Saddle Club, to the tranquil banks of the Little Missouri River, each story is a testament to the resilience and spirit of the people who called this rugged landscape home. But Peterson's work extends beyond mere storytelling. As she tirelessly advocates for women's equality, mental health awareness, and environmental conservation, her articles become a rallying cry for change. Bea's legacy is as enduring as the land she so passionately writes about. "West of the Wide Missouri" is more than just a collection of articles—it's a celebration of the American spirit and a tribute to the power of storytelling to inspire change. West of the Wide Missouri: Review by Senator Byron L. Dorgan At a time when the noise of Democracy and journalism often seems so coarse and so loud, this book describes the remarkable life and the quiet leadership of an elegant woman involved in both journalism and politics who had a relentless belief in all of the virtues of America. Bea Peterson was a writer who for decades wrote a column in The Dickinson Press titled "West of the Wide Missouri". She wrote about human interest subjects, what was happening in the lives of ordinary people and she interviewed and wrote about the elderly pioneers on the prairie. She told delightful and wonderful stories about people she knew and people she was going to know. But more than that, Bea Peterson had a commitment to be involved in American politics. For Bea that participation was in the Democratic Party, and it led her to leadership positions in both North Dakota and in national politics. She believed it was essential for citizens to participate in American politics. And, she personally demonstrated the importance of that involvement in every way. So, this book is a tribute of Bea Peterson. She was a North Dakota original and a leader who made a difference in our country in all the right ways. Byron L. Dorgan served as a U.S. congressman and senator for North Dakota for thirty years before retiring in January of 2011. He was chairman of Senate Committees and Subcommittees on the issues of Energy, Aviation, Appropriations, Water Policy, and Indian Affairs. Senator Dorgan is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Take This Job and Ship It. When he retired from the U.S. Senate, he created the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) to work on teen suicide prevention, education opportunity and more for children living on Indian reservations. Bea Peterson: A prolific writer and champion of women, seniors, and rural Americans. If you have roots in North Dakota or just love stories about the extraordinary lives of everyday people, you are in for a treat. Bea Peterson was an amazing woman and journalist who recorded the world around her with warmth, humor, and zeal. Her life was a testament to the impact those living in the most rural corners of America can have on this country and even the world. God didn't give me the good fortune of knowing her in real life, but I was lucky enough to work with Bea's daughter Debra. When my own career veered off into writing personal biographies, Debra knew I'd get a kick out of her mother's columns compiled in this book. From the very first words, I was smitten. Bea's writing is the kind that both ignites your spirit and makes you long for simpler times. Farming, raising five girls, writing, advocation for the ideals she believed in-Bea embodied her belief that "If you want to do something, you just find the time." She extoled North Dakota's virtues, advocated for soil conservation, lobbied for the well-being of senior citizens and was a voice for women everywhere. From homesteader's daughter to Carter-appointed delegate to The World Conference on Women in 1980, hers was a life we can all learn from. Terri Sherrill is a freelance writer that has ghostwritten 12 private autobiographies and published numerous personal essays including one featured in the Creative Nonfiction anthology "Show Me All Your Scars". Debra Peterson Mundt is Bea and Gilman Peterson's daughter and grew up on Flagstaff Farms in Daglum North Dakota, where Gilman grew wheat and raised Hereford cattle. Debra and her husband Eric own the original homestead which was settled by her Grandfather Halvor Peterson and his brothers and sisters, Hans, Ole, Marie, and Sina Pettersen, from Vik,