On May 14, 1976, House Mother, Elizabeth “Betty” Thealen, became one of the first women to be honorary initiate for her work as Housemother for the Beta Chapter at Northwestern University.
Betty's association with Delta Sigma Pi began when PGP H. G. "Gig" Wright decided to acquire a Beta Chapter house and needed someone to oversee the house operations. The Beta Chapter's first house was located only a block from the Fraternity's then-address
(222 W. Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois). Betty worked as a housekeeper at the house before it was acquired by the Beta Chapter in 1917 and agreed to "help out" until a replacement could be found. She went on to serve as housemother for 60 years for
the Beta Chapter at Northwestern University-Chicago; attend over 500 recruiting functions, 700 Fraternity parties, and 120 post-initiation celebrations; and “adopt” close to 1,200 Deltasigs.
Housemothers are often live-in employees of a fraternity or sorority organization who manage a chapter house’s day-to-day operations, overall maintenance, and any other household duties. They also served as supportive figures and provided guidance
to members. Betty thought she would stay at the job for only a brief period and never dreamed it would become her life's work.
She managed the house so well that after two years, the Beta Chapter sought a larger residence, and then another. In 1925, the chapter made a momentous decision to buy a four-story building. Despite the huge obligation, the students felt secure with Betty
as their housemother. An apartment was created for her on the lower level, and she resided there for the rest of her career.
Betty could recount endless names of brothers who stayed at the Beta Chapter house. She was known for her delicious, toasted cheese and bacon sandwiches, often receiving no extra pay for cooking in the late hours but did it solely because of her devotion
to the Fraternity. Helping to further Delta Sigma Pi was a major part of Betty’s life, and she was loved by the thousands of Deltasigs she was a “Mother” too.
At her 100th birthday party in 1976, many brothers came together to celebrate, and she was presented with a plaque that read “"To Betty . . . with genuine devotion reserved by men for the mother of a mighty race . . . with keen envy at
the fullness of your years . . . and with sincerest heartfelt good wishes upon reaching a century, most of it in service to this brotherhood. Happy Birthday."
To close of the special occasion, PGP Thomas Mocella said that under the Fraternity's then-new policy of admitting women (learn more about this historic decision here), Betty became the first women honorary initiate for the Beta Chapter. Her membership
initiation was conducted on May 14, 1976, at 100-years-old. Unfortunately, Betty passed later that year on October 1, 1976.
Elizabeth Thealen represents the women who were making an impact in Delta Sigma Pi before the membership was every open to them. She is a hallowed figure in our history for her passion for her job and this organization— so much so that she was honored
as one of the first women honorary initiates. We thank Betty, and all the women behind-the-scenes, for their service to Delta Sigma Pi.
To honor this monumental anniversary, Delta Sigma Pi is providing informational and historical profiles about some of the dedicated Deltasigs of our organization— all throughout the year. Stay up to date for new updates every week!
Check back next week to hear about more amazing women in Delta Sigma Pi as we celebrate 50 years of women being initiated into Delta Sigma Pi.
Anthony Z. Fernandez presented Betty a painting of herself at her 100th birthday party.