NDSU sorority surprises former sister with help

FARGO – Bev Barstad will be the first to tell you: The ties of a sorority run deep.

On Saturday morning, about 15 current members of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority from North Dakota State University volunteered their time to help Barstad, a former sister who, within the past year, has lost her husband and been diagnosed with cancer.

Barstad had recently moved out of, and is trying to sell, her home at 1614 38½ Ave. S. But there was a lot of yard work and cleaning that needed to be done before the house could be in a condition to be shown to possible buyers.

Recognizing it was more than Barstad could do on her own, Jayne Bertsch, a friend and former sorority sister of Barstad’s, decided to reach out to Alpha Gamma Delta for help.

Elly Peterson, the sorority’s president and a junior at NDSU, said she never thought twice about organizing an effort to help the former sister out.

“It’s kind of what Greek life is all about,” she said. “It’s a great way to give back to the people who came before us.”

Even though students are in the midst of finals week and preparing to move out for the summer, Peterson said they were more than happy to take time away cramming and writing.

“Being there for each other is important to us,” she said. “It’s all about sisterhood, no matter the age.”

Barstad was kept in the dark about the cleaning, and she showed up about halfway through to find the sorority and some of her neighbors hard at work.

And when she saw what was happening, the tears started flowing.

“It was a big surprise,” Barstad said later, still smiling as she took in the entire scene. “It’s just awesome, knowing that you have wonderful friends who want to help you out.”

The girls of the Alpha Gamma Delta, she added, “are lifetime friends.”

To Bertsch, the response says a lot about the students.

“It shows you that the young kids in the community, they’re really awesome,” she said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Sam Benshoof at (701) 241-5535

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