Isabelle Rebecca Walkenhorst Nolte

Isabelle Rebecca Walkenhorst Nolte, also known as Belle among many other nicknames, was born in Concordia, Missouri, on May 2, 1871. William Frederick Walkenhorst, her father, founded The Walkenhorst School and began his long career as an educator. Belle attended her family's school in 1879, where she learned from her father.

Later she studied under a different schoolmaster and was exposed to art. One day she had been doodling during class and was asked to draw on the chalkboard. She believed she was going to get reprimanded, but she received praise from the teacher instead. This increased her interest in art that eventually led to an artistic career.

She was a self-taught artist who used any materials available, including house paint, tin cans and candy bucket lids, to paint flowers. She and her husband moved to Alma, Missouri, where she grew flowers that were one of the inspirations for her paintings. Neighbors knew her as "Ma" Nolte due to her kind nature; she loved sharing her paintings and took any opportunity to showcase them in her home, from standard wall hanging pieces to painted china.

She died on August 1, 1964, at the age of ninety- three.