DARLINGTON - Just before Bev Anderson's 81st birthday, she's beginning to get used to a slightly slower pace. There have been only a few meetings held without her, but surely the Darlington City Council is missing the pillar that's been a part of the community's growth and change almost continuously since the mid-1970s.

Anderson was born in Galena, Illinois but grew up in a home she can see by looking out her front door in Darlington. Her family owned and operated the Sweet Shop for 42 years. Her father headed up the ice cream socials and sold cigars and other goodies during community events.

Anderson, who worked there, said she was always a "people person." When she graduated from high school in 1952, she had a passion to become a nurse and attended St. Mary's in Madison. But shortly after, her father, Gordon Roseleip, got into politics and became a state senator, so Anderson came home to help run the family business.

Anderson always had an interest in politics as well, and when the men talked government in the shop, she recalls how she would often chime in.

Anderson said her great-grandfather was a prisoner of war in the Civil War and her father served in World War II. She heard many war stories from her grandmother, who lived with the family for a time.

"We were taught early about sacrifices and getting involved," Anderson said, noting that she learned early on that - even if it isn't much - each night you should feel you've made a difference.

Her husband, Bob, who grew up just down the street, was in the Marines. When he was discharged, the couple married in 1954. There weren't many jobs available, so when Bob came home, he worked at the Sweet Shop, learning to make ice cream before he and Anderson opened Darlington's first beer bar. The couple owned and operated both businesses until they were sold in 1976 and 1978. Bob soon landed a job with the post office and was a rural mail carrier for more than 50 years.

They have four children and today Anderson boasts 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In 1974, Anderson ran for Darlington City Council for the first time. She was the first woman to serve on the council.

"They didn't expect me to participate as much as I did," she laughed.

She said she knew she often represented a different view than what most were used to, but she felt both men and women's perspectives were needed. At times, she said, it was hard in a small town with so many relatives and friends, but it was worth it.

"You have to be educated on the subject, weigh the pros and cons and do what's best for the majority," she said.

It was several years before another woman served alongside her. But she never felt like an outcast.

"It was a passion to make things better," Anderson said. "I wanted to set an example that if you really believe in something, you can make a difference."

She served on the city council nine years and served as the mayor from 1984 to 1996 before taking two years off to help with her grandchildren. She then came back to the council and served until recently.

She also served on the county board from 1984 to 1994.

Anderson worked as a CNA at the hospital for a while and had her ambulance/EMT license but she said she was so involved with local government, she simply couldn't do it all. She said she felt lucky to have such a supportive husband while she took on the town and county's best interests.

Anderson was also involved with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging, Public Health Nursing and State Ag Consumer Protection Board. She served on the governor's task force for land use, Department of Natural Resources committees and a number of higher-level government committees.

She's especially proud of the flood mitigation the city was involved with and forming strong relationships throughout the area to get jobs done that sometimes took years.

She said she's very proud of the condos on Main Street, which went hand-in-hand with the flood mitigation project. She loves the lyrics to an old song: "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative" - words she's tried to live by when it came to the city of Darlington.

The project began in 2007 and has encouraged people to come back to Darlington. She said the development corporation worked hard after several roadblocks before the project came to fruition.

Anderson has always been a proponent of revitalizing Main Street and said she truly believes that Main Streets are the hearts of communities.

The project was completed three years ago and has seen success - it even has a waiting list for people.

Anderson said it's a different world today than when she grew up here - but she has accepted change over the years and has tried to make it work to the advantage of the county and city.

She's proud that she always stuck to a one-size-doesn't-fit-all attitude and supported the philosophy that what worked for bigger cities doesn't always work for small towns.

Anderson is a strong supporter of keeping small towns strong and loves to encourage people to keep their money local. She hopes aldermen will continue to fight for the local businesses that make up the community.

Anderson said it was a big decision not to run for the council again, but hangs her hat to the hope that younger people will step up and get involved with an interest of doing what's best for the city.

Today, Anderson reflects with fond memories of her time as a civil servant, and it will be hard to get used to not heading up to the meetings.

"I'd do it all over again," Anderson said.

"I learned a lot."