Rupert Elks Lodge Members Serve Meal To Honor & Thank Mothers
By Dianna Troyer
To be ready to cook a Mother’s Day brunch for about 160 people, Rupert Elks Lodge 2106 members start the night before, cracking countless eggs.
“It’s a heck of a bunch of eggs to prep—about 25 dozen or 300, estimating two per person,” says Ed Phillips, a past exalted ruler and longtime volunteer on the cooking crew. “That morning, we baked a couple of hams, too.”
Since the early 1960s, members have served brunch to moms at the lodge at 85 South, 200 West in Rupert.
The brunch embodies the lodge’s mission to do community service projects that promote charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity as ways to make the community a better place to live, work, and play.
“The brunch started a few years after the lodge was chartered in 1959,” Ed says. “It’s for our members and their families and their guests. We give moms flowers or plants. We make it fun, too, with awards.”
Along with gifts, members present honors in several categories: oldest grandmother, the grandmother with the most grandchildren, the mom who traveled the farthest, and the youngest mom.
Besides ham and eggs, Ed and about 10 lodge members serve bacon, sausage, French toast, biscuits with sausage gravy, and fruit.
“We’re here from 10 a.m. until about 2 p.m., until everyone is served,” he says. “Some people like to come before church, while others come after. We want to make the day last and allow everyone to linger.”
Timeless Tips From Mothers
The annual Mother’s Day Brunch is also a time for women in the lodge to reflect on the advice they share with their children.
Jackie Norby, a longtime member, says she always encourages her two daughters to be honest.
“Do what you say you’ll do and mean it,” she says. “Follow through.”
Treasurer Kathy Kontes shares a message of perseverance.
“I tell my son to always do your best,” Kathy says. “You can’t quit if something gets difficult.”
Inner Guard Tammy Hanks remembers her own mother’s advice.
“I think the best advice my mama gave me was to always follow your heart,” she says. “My advice to my sons is pretty simple: Always be good and kind to those you love. I remind them, too, that true kindness has no expectation of reward.”
Being a mom has its trying days, she says. “I always talked with them about making good choices,” Tammy says. “One of my favorite mottos is ‘Attitude is a choice, make a good choice.’”
Chaplain Shannon Miller reminds her two sons, ages 24 and 20, to be safe, make memories along the way, and treat every day like a job interview—put your best foot forward.
“We value spending time together as a family, traveling safely and making memories,” Shannon says. “We did that in December 2024, when our family and future daughter-in-law traveled to New Zealand for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. My husband and youngest son qualified for it and raced together.”