Creating Fiction from History: 1/4/2023

Roberta Henson never won a beauty contest, but to certain people, the ones whose opinion truly mattered to her, Bertie was a veritable angel from heaven!

Our homely heroine entered this realm in the usual way on the 6th of April, 1909. She was born in the newly-built City Hospital across the river in Missouri. While she was technically a Missourian by birth, Bertie would always and forever claim her Kansan roots.

Growing up on the river, over in Kansas, she was used to hearing the steamboats as they plied their trade, ferrying passengers here and there, or just affording them the opportunity for a nice leisurely ride up and down the mighty river.

When, in 1924, her parents, Robert Henson and Marjorie Peary decided to uproot from Kansas, it was only natural they boarded a steamboat headed North, captained by one of the bravest, hardiest men to ever dare the sometimes treacherous Missouri River.

When they finally came to shore at the fledgling town of Three Forks, Montana, these intrepid, but river-weary travelers took the next stage west to the burgeoning railroad town of Whitehall.

Though Bertie would always claim to be a Kansan through and through, this 13-year-old quickly became enamored with her new environs. Though the Jefferson and Madison were overshadowed by the mighty Missouri, Bertie grew to love them just as much, if not more. She missed her steamboats, though.

This photograph may have been taken aboard the newly-built President, about a week after launching from Kansas City.

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.