Retta Bede Painting

Portrait painting of Retta Bede

Retta Bede served the Northwest School of Agriculture from 1925-1957 as an instructor in home economics and preceptress in the girls' dormitory. The original NWSA classroom building known as the Home Economics Building was the first building to bear the name Bede Hall in her honor, but it became unsafe and was razed in 1967.

Bede had judged at every county fair in northwest Minnesota and was highly respected by thousands of former students of the NWSA. 

Bede Hall, now the home of Bede Ballroom, was dedicated to Retta June 28, 1969.