I was in Aneta, North Dakota at the start of the year spotlighting The Queen City Cafe on Dakota Diners.
Preparing for my visit then, I came across a book, a yearbook of sorts, on Aneta, North Dakota. But not just Aneta: It contained the histories of some of the neighboring communities, and townships, too, such as Ora, Rugh, Loretta, Lee, Field, and Sharon. The book had tales of area blizzards, aerial shots of farms, Main Street businesses, the grain elevator, churches, the people who lived there, and those who are buried there. The book is called Action in Aneta, 1896-1971 Diamond Jubilee, and can be read online courtesy of the North Dakota State Library.
On page 66, under the heading Aneta Queens, the book briefly details some of the former local beauties, and the very first photo is of Nancy Tangen. I'd like to share with you some of her story, and some of her music.
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Nancy Tangen
Nancy Tangen was from Northwood, North Dakota, a little farming community in the northeastern part of the state, in Grand Forks County. Aneta is the next community over from Northwood, about 26 miles away. Nancy was crowned Miss North Dakota in 1970. Her local title was Miss Grand Forks. The photo of her in the Aneta yearbook is quite fetching: A side profile of Nancy, she’s wearing a black top, her hair is pulled back, and she’s looking off into the great beyond with a smile.
Nancy joined the Fred Waring Show for a six-month tour in 1971. (Fred Waring, in case you don’t know, was a musician, a bandleader, radio and TV personality, and one of Pennsylvania’s most famous people.) She went on to become a director at WDAZ-TV Devils Lake/Grand Forks. She hosted a TV show called The Party Line, “a hometown talk show featuring a little news, guest interviews and lifestyle segments.” She was a spokeswoman for First Federal Savings & Loan. She made appearances at many functions, festivals and celebrations all throughout North Dakota. She was a genuine local celebrity.
From the archives available, it’s evident that she was proud to be from North Dakota. She became Nancy Hamilton in 1976 when she married Robert Hamilton, a doctor from Langdon. They had two children, Austin and Chelta. Tragically, Nancy died in a plane accident in 1990 in Arizona. She’s buried in Northwood, North Dakota. The bottom of her headstone is bordered with a piano.
I’d like to show you a letter from the past written by Nancy. It was sent to me by her daughter, Chelta Hamilton. Thank you, Chelta, to you and your family. The letter details a song that Nancy composed called “That’s In North Dakota,” and I think it paints a really beautiful portrait of who she was as a person.
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Letter from Nancy
Dear friends,
I was raised on a farm in North Dakota, attending a country school and grew up a typical tomboy — wanting to become a Cowboy or an Indian.
Unlike most, I got my start in music in the hayloft of my father’s barn, pretending I was in a great concert hall, with the cattle as my audience. (They were most appreciative as they stood in a perfectly straight line and listened.) When I became old enough, I began singing solos in our little ol’ country church (which I’ll always dearly love) and with the encouragement of the wonderful people there I soon began singing all over the state of North Dakota.
In 1968, I toured Europe with the International Music Camp Choir and that same year became Miss United States Durum, representing the United States Durum Association. I studied music at the University of North Dakota and in 1970 represented Grand Forks in the Miss North Dakota pageant and that same year represented North Dakota in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
I left my home in North Dakota for a few years to live in New York City and the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania to sing professionally with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. We performed concerts from coast to coast, including Alaska, Canada and Mexico; for the president of the United States at the White House; National Network Television and Fred Waring continued introducing me to all audiences as Miss North Dakota 1970. That was indeed a privilege.
A few short months ago I wrote the song “That’s In North Dakota,” mostly for the people of North Dakota, farm life, my mother, father and brother, and as a tribute of appreciation for all the opportunities made available to me by the North Dakota folks I love.
Currently, I am hosting a local television show in Grand Forks, from WDAZ Channel 8 and enjoying being back home.
I’d like to give a few credits for help in production of this record. Firstly, and most importantly to God for giving me the inspiration to write the words and music. To my parents and brother for their love. To Curt Sorebo for his encouragement. Kit Grove, Lee Massey, Mike Sigerud and the musicians for recording. And, lastly but not least, to the people of North Dakota - about whom the song is written.
Fondest regards,
Nancy Tangen
