Laura’s Legacy Award
The Laura’s Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution toward the preservation of Laura’s legacy.
The award is presented at each LauraPalooza conference to someone nominated and voted on by past winners and the Board of Directors. The nominee should be someone still living who has made a major contribution towards preserving the legacy of LIW in some way.
Past Winners
Jim Hicks
Jim Hicks
In 2025 we presented two awards. First we presented the award to Jim Hicks, ….. need text info.
Nancy Tystad Koupal
Nancy Tystad Koupal
Our second award in 2025 was presented to Nancy Tystad Koupal, …. need text info.
Stan and Hazelle Gordon
Stan and Hazelle Gordon
The Laura’s Legacy Award recipients for 2023: Stan and Hazelle Gordon, former residents and owners of the dugout property in Walnut Grove, MN. The Gordons were instrumental as part of the founding of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and supporting the pageant, Fragments of A Dream in Walnut Grove.
We are sad to report the passing of Stan in 2024.
Dean Butler
Dean Butler
We are pleased to announce our 2022 Laura’s Legacy Award recipient: Dean Butler, actor portrayal of Almanzo Wilder on the television show, Little House on the Prairie. Mr. Butler’s many accomplishments included multiple interviews supporting the Almanzo Wilder Farm, participating in the PBS Masters Program Laura Ingalls Wilder: From Prairie to Page, supporting the 50th Anniversary of the television show with various nationwide events and hosting a podcast entitled, Little House 50 for 50.
Ferneva Brimacomb
Ferneva Brimacomb
We are pleased to announce our 2019 Laura’s Legacy Award recipient: Ferneva Brimacomb, former director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa, whose many accomplishments included the designation of U.S. Highway 52 as the “Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway,” and the acquisition of buildings that would become the museum’s visitor center.
Jean Coday
Jean Coday
In 2017 we presented our award to Jean Coday, who served for many years as president and director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum and the Wilder Home and Museum, both in Mansfield, Missouri.
Jean Elefson
Jean Elefson
We also honored Jean Elefson, who was instrumental in the establishment and development of the activities at the Little House Wayside during Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Pepin, Wisconsin.
We are sad to report about Jean’s passing away in 2021.
John E. Miller
John E. Miller
We are pleased to announce our 2015 Laura’s Legacy Award recipients: John E. Miller, South Dakota State University history professor emeritus and author of several books pertaining to Ingalls/Wilder research, including biography Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Sally House
Sally House
Our second award in 2015 was presented to Sally House who, with her late husband Larry, was highly instrumental in the restoration and preservation of the Almanzo Wilder Farm near Malone, New York.
Barbara Walker
Barbara Walker
In 2012 we presented two awards. First we presented the award to Barbara Walker, author of the Little House Cookbook, whose extensive research and experimentation in the kitchen has enabled Laura’s admirers to experience Laura’s books through taste.
Shirley Knakmuhs
Shirley Knakmuhs
Our second award in 2012 was presented to Shirley Knakmuhs, early board member at the museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and producer of the first outdoor pageant in this location. She was director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove from 1974-1990 and well known as “Mrs. Oleson” in the Walnut Grove pageant for many years.
Bill Anderson
Bill Anderson
Our first Laura’s Legacy Award was presented to Bill Anderson, whose contribution to preserving Laura’s legacy over the past five decades is too great to enumerate. He is a researcher, author, and biographer who has served many years on the boards at the Laura Ingalls Wilder museums located in Mansfield, Missouri, and De Smet, South Dakota, edited and produced the Laura Ingalls Wilder Lore newsletter, served as a tour guide in De Smet, “The Little Town on the Prairie,” and shared his wealth of knowledge with countless other Laura Ingalls Wilder researchers and writers.
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